C’River polls: APC compelling REC to use prepared list of SPOs, PDP alleges

By Sixtus Uket (Calabar)

The Cross River chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is putting pressures on the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to use their prepared list of the Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) for Saturday’s elections.

The Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Mike Ojisi, who made the allegation in a press statement made available to journalists in Calabar on Friday, appealed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to call the Cross River REC to order.

Mr. Ojisi disclosed that, “the prepared list of SPOs was part of the grand plan to compromise the Governorship and House of Assembly elections just as APC is hatching plan is to use Police to harass and intimidate PDP supporters in their strong hold.”

“We were aware of these plans and had cried out to the world over the plan by the APC to compromise the polls. Just like they held meeting with the Police to compromise the polls, so also did they met with the REC to do same.

“Ayade had met with about 200 SPOs at Peregrino Government House on Wednesday night where he pleaded with them to assist in delivering APC candidates on Saturday.

“At the meeting, Ayade was said to have doled out about N50 million to them in tacit agreement that they (SPOs) will release sensitive materials to APC Election Supervisory Monitoring Unit.

“The SPOs have agreed to play ball if only Ayade will provide them with security cover and it was in the light of the above that Ayade, in collaboration with the State Police Command mobilised Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to all the Local Government Areas to protect SPOs, who are solely in charge of sensitive election materials,” the State Publicity Secretary of PDP stated.