The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has alleged that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has perfected plans to recruit youths as fake staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to tamper with Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the September 21 governorship election in the state.
The state chairman of the party, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi made the allegations on Friday at a press briefing in Benin City.
Aziegbemi alleged that the party’s intelligence unit uncovered the APC’s sinister plans to recruit the youths as fake INEC staff and technical support staff.
He said the aim of the fake staff was to tamper with the BVAS Machine on the Day of Election to beef up the number of accredited voters of APC on the BVAS machine.
“We wish to draw the attention of INEC and Edolites to the sinister plan of the APC which has been uncovered by our intelligence unit.
“APC has perfected a plan to use fake INEC Staff posing as Technical Staff to tamper with the BVAS Machine on the Day of Election to beef up the number of accredited voters on the BVAS machine.
“APC knowing that they cannot win the election has resorted to rigging plans which will terribly fail,” he said.
Aziegbemi, who also alleged that APC, instead of uploading human beings as polling agents uploaded “emojis”, added that the party did not upload agents on the INEC designated portal in 3,037 polling units and in 17 LGAs.
He alleged that the party only uploaded polling agents in 1,482 polling units and in one local government while PDP uploaded in 4,378 polling units.
According to him, in all, APC did not do the right thing in 3,037 polling units. PDP did the right thing in 4,378 polling units, but did not get it right in 141 polling units.
He, however, called on INEC not to allow any political party or all political parties that do not meet the requirements of uploading polling units agents to substitute or effect any change of party agents.
He advised INEC to allow political parties to bear the consequences of not meeting the requirements as stipulated by the electoral act.
The PDP chairman, also urged INEC to publish the names, pictures and posting of all its technical support staff before the election to avoid APC allegedly using fake staff to tamper with BVAS.
He vowed that failure to do so, the party would not accept anybody to get close to the BVAS except the presiding officers.
Reacting to the allegations, Prince Kassim Afegbua, APC campaign council, media director, alleged that PDP just told the public what they are planning to do.
Afegbua said the bad news was that the APC is monitoring them bumper to bumper.
“We have told the world before now that Governor Obaseki brought hackers and cloners to Edo, with the aim of ensuring that the BVAS are tampered with, while also cloning our candidate’s voice.
“Now, they saw that is not working, they now want to device another method. By Monday and Tuesday, they have perfected plans to stage protest across the state asking that their criminal elements should not be arrested.
“Those who were fingered in the killing of Inspector Onu Akor are running away from investigation.
“They are afraid of facing the consequences of their action, hiding in Edo state government House for fear of arrest.
“They are coming up with these allegations to distract attention but unfortunately, we are following them up. We get details of their meeting everyday.
“We exposed the voice notes of their so-called Edo Security Network directive to their armed personnel, telling them to hide their guns. The game is up for them.
“Tell them to go and face their campaigns and stop using Edo monies to hire Rema to beef up their campaigns”,he added.
On his part, Timi Wariowei, INEC spokesman in Edo State, said the Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, would be presiding over an enlarged stakeholders meeting in Benin City.
He said the meeting will hold on September 11, 2024 and that the PDP state chairman can raise the issues there.
