PDP Exposes Why INEC Denied Atiku Access To Election Materials

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has revealed the main reason the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ha refused the allow the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to inspect the documents and materials used in the February 23, 2019 presidential election.

Naija News reports that the party accused the electoral umpire of disobeying the March 6, 2019 ruling of the Appeal Court, which directed it to allow the party inspect the documents and materials used in the election.

In a statement made by the national publicity secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party described the action of the commission as a deliberate and wicked ploy to frustrate the plan by the party and Atiku to file their petition at the presidential election tribunal, and by so doing, ambush the case.

The statement obtained by Naija New on Saturday reads; “Despite being served with the order and several follow-ups, the leadership of INEC has refused to grant the PDP and Atiku Abubakar access to the materials and documents, notwithstanding the urgency of the matter.” 

While reacting to the allegation made by the party, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said, “The Independent National Electoral Commission has a good record of obeying court orders. If and when the commission receives the orders of the court, it will comply.

“However, it is common knowledge that since the declaration of the results of the presidential election, the commission has been very busy with the multiple activities regarding the National Assembly, governorship, state Houses of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory elections. Only last Thursday, the commission presented Certificates of Return to senators-elect and House of Representatives members-electors including PDP members.”