The Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday condemned the decision of the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ban the use of smart phones in polling
units.
National
Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said the move was to prevent the global
community from knowing its plan to rig the 2019 general elections in favour of
the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Secondus
spoke at a meeting with stakeholders from Bayelsa East Senatorial District in
Yenagoa.
A statement issued
by Fidelis Soriwei, Special Adviser to Governor Seriake Dickson on Media,
quoted Secondus as saying that it was quite puzzling that the commission would
attempt to prevent the use of smart phones.
While
describing smart phones as the easiest means of communication in the society,
during elections, Secondus argued that the commission by that singular act had
sent the country to the dark, primitive era.
The PDP
Chairman also restated his opposition to President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal
to sign the amended Electoral Act in a bid to avoid the use of card readers.
He said, “We
have all heard what the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, said about the decision
to ban the use of smart phones in the polling units. All over the world, a
smart phone is the easiest way of communication.
“What they
have said clearly shows that the commission in connivance with the All
Progressives Congress had perfected a rigging strategy for the next election.
In fact, INEC has sent Nigeria back to the primitive days.
“The same
plan to rig the 2019 elections is responsible for the refusal of the President
to sign the amended Electoral Act because the card reader must be used.
“Our
position is that INEC is wrong, there is no where in the constitution or in the
electoral act where smart phones are banned. INEC, if you throw this country to
crisis, you will be held responsible.”
Secondus
said that Nigeria was under siege as the Federal Government had introduced an
obnoxious suspension of the people’s right to freedom in the country.
He raised
the alarm that more people had been killed in the country in the past one year
than those killed in the Nigerian civil war from 1967 to 1970.
The
opposition party leader further lamented that the APC had introduced
dictatorial tendencies that were worse than the repression witnessed under the
military.
Secondus
also accused the Federal Government of borrowing N11 trillion in three years in
spite of the huge amount of money budgeted yearly to run the government.
He said that
the nation’s debt profile had hit the highest level of all time under the
APC-led Federal Government.
“We have
borrowed N11 trillion and you don’t feel the impact of the budget except in
Daura. Nigeria has witnessed nepotism that has never been felt this way in this
country.
“The
international community is worried about Nigeria. The country is broke; our
debt profile has risen to the highest level. Nigeria is under siege. Freedom
and rights have been denied our people. The country is going through very difficult
and trying the moments.”
In his
remarks, Governor Dickson urged the people of the Niger Delta to give the
expected support to Secondus in his efforts to lead the PDP to electoral
victory in 2019.
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