INEC-Chairman-Prof.-Attahiru-Jega

INEC-Chairman-Prof.-Attahiru-Jega

 The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has said the Independent National Electoral Commission has no problem with the election of its National Working Committee members.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisah Metuh, said in an electronic statement on Monday that an INEC report, voiding the election of 12 out of the 16 members of the party’s NWC, was false.

Metuh said the report of the 12-man committee led by Col. M.K. Hammanga, which disapproved of the election of the 12 NWC members, did not emanate from the commission.

The ruling party had on Wednesday faulted INEC over the report, saying it was meant to destabilise it.

In its reaction on Wednesday, the PDP did not question the authenticity of the report, which was produced by a committee headed by Hammanga.

The committee reportedly faulted the process adopted by the PDP to elect the affected 12 on the premise that it violated paragraph 6.5 of the guidelines for conducting the congresses and the National convention of the PDP in 2012.

Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, on Monday, in his reaction, said,  “That is why I said when a matter is in court, we don’t speak on that matter. Some people are litigating on that matter, especially alleging playing of games. Other people are free to talk on it but the right thing is that when a matter is in court, we don’t talk on it.”

In his statement,  Metuh said the commission couldn’t have come up with the report.

He stated that the report was part of a scheme by people he did not mention to undermine the leadership of the party and to cause confusion in the polity.

 Metuh said, “This report is totally false and is clearly part of the orchestrated media attack on our party, aimed at causing confusion and undermining the psyche of our members.

“Our investigations revealed that the said report did not in any way emanate from the Independent National Electoral Commission or any of its officials.

“Rather, the report was mischievously planted by unscrupulous elements in a desperate bid to undermine the overwhelming support our party enjoys among Nigerians.”

Meanwhile, INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Monday in Abuja held a marathon meeting with 36 Resident Electoral Commissioners and some new directors.

The PUNCH was informed that the meeting, which was at the instance of Jega, followed a deluge of complaints, suspicions and alleged marginalisation that trailed the reorganisation in INEC.

The meeting featured the new directors and Heads of Department, who resumed works on Monday.