Lagos PDP accuses APC of conniving with INEC officials to manipulate PVC collection process

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC), officials of Lagos Transport and Motor Parks Administration and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of embarking on manipulation of voters.

PDP made the accusation in a issued by its state Publicity Secretary, and Chairman, Media, and Publicity, JandorFunke 2023 Campaign, Mr Hakeem Amode on Monday.

The party said: “The manipulation has reached a proportion where it is now been aided by the state government apparatus and we found it imperative to call your attention to the misnomer.

“We are aware of the ruling APC government officials using their position to collect voters’ information and requesting the submission of photocopies of Permanent Voter Cards – PVC as a prerequisite for work permits in transport parks and trading in the markets.

“We view these directives and actions as hoodwinking and an attempt by the ruling APC government to manipulate the 2023 election ahead.

“The Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State is hereby calling the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Inspector General of Police, and all well-meaning Nigerians to the electoral fraud being committed before the conduct of the 2023 election by the ruling APC government in Lagos state.

“In consonance with the promise of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver a credible election which we have seen the demonstration in Ekiti and Osun states gubernatorial elections, we are using this opportunity to call the attention of the President, the Chairman of INEC and the Inspector General of Police to the voter’s manipulation anomalies currently going on in Lagos state.”

The party stressed that it recently got a report that some INEC staff were colluding with members of the APC in the state to deny some groups of people access to collection of their PVCs.

“One Mr. Muyiwa Mojeed Yusuf, the INEC head of ICT in Lagos, was alleged to have connived with the APC to clone the faces of voters through his privileged access to the PVCs.

“We were also informed that a staff of INEC in the Ojo area, one Miss Balogun. A. Olasunbo (Ojelabi) allegedly married to the State Chairman of Lagos APC, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, is using her position to manipulate the distribution and collection of PVC.

“We are currently investigating the report and we would appreciate your distinguished eagle eye to assist us in conducting an investigative assessment of our claim.

“Our campaign has suffered several onslaughts from the ruling government and we have remained resolute in mobilizing the grassroots voters who are directly affected and had endured the harassment, intimidation, and highhandedness that is synonymous with this administration.

“We cannot afford to continue to allow the ruling party to continue the display of entitled hegemony in a democratic society. We believe the people have a say in whom is elected to form a government and the sanctity of their choice should be respected and protected under the electoral law and process,” the PDP said.