PDP alleges APC plot to use police to rig election

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the news of the deployment of 11 police commissioners to some select local government areas in Benue ahead of the governorship polls.

Deputy Inspector General of Police in Charge of Elections in the North Central Geo-Political Zone, Godwin Nwobodo had disclosed that a total of 11 Police Commissioners were been drafted to Benue state to conduct the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

PDP, had alleged that the heavy deployment which was targeted at the party’s strongholds was intended to aid the rigging of the polls by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Nwobodo however debunked the claims by the PDP insisting that the deployment was to ensure peaceful conduct of the polls.

Speaking on Friday in Makurdi, Nwobodo said elections would be supervised by the Police commissioners in selected local government areas including Agatu, Logo, Gwer-West, Gwer East, Katsina-Ala, Okpokwu, Ukum and Guma.

He said the number comprised of 5 Commissioners, 4 Deputy Commissioners and 2 Assistant Commissioners of Police, who by law are all Police Commissioners. He added that they would oversee elections in the three senatorial districts of the state and specific local government areas identified as flashpoints.

According to him, “I do not know and cannot fathom how any group or any political party can convince themselves that those who voted for them in a particular election will not vote against them in another one. It does not follow.

“I am not saying they will vote against them, what I’m saying in essence is that we cannot rely on guesswork that this is my area they use to vote for me that is why they are deploying security to that area.

“Supposing those people are deployed to protect their votes, to ensure that their votes are adequately protected, have they also imagined that as well?

“There is always two sides to a coin, if you think that security is being deployed to rig against you, why don’t you also think that security is being deployed so that my votes will be protected. Does it not follow, is it not logical?”

Continuing, DIG Nwobodo said, “credible election enthrones good governance and good governance serves the greater good for the citizens. Election should therefore not be a do or die affair.

“As security agencies, we have a responsibility to police the rules and regulations set out by the election managers-Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. These set of rules/regulations are provided for in the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, INEC Guidelines / Regulations and all other extant laws.

“All stakeholders are therefore advised to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations governing the conduct of tomorrow’s election so as to avoid infractions with the law.