The Inspector General of Police released a statement today asking
Nigerians to go home immediately after voting, but APC says voters
should ignore that directive and can wait to see of their votes are
counted. Read the statement below...
In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the electorate should rather listen to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who said the electoral law does not state anywhere that voters cannot or should not wait to watch and ensure that their votes are counted.
It therefore urged the electorate to make
sure they stayed behind to protect their votes after casting their
ballots, as was the case in 2011.
APC said contrary to
the suspicious directive by the IGP, INEC encourages voters to stay
behind and watch their votes counted, saying the law expects such voters
to stay behind but to conduct themselves in an orderly manner.
''According to Jega, who appeared on Channels TV on Friday
morning, the electoral law says anyone that has no business with the
electoral process at the polling booths but desires to monitor events
should stay at least some metres away from the polling agents and
completely away from the ballot box after casting their votes.
''The
INEC Chairman further clarified that all registered voters have
businesses with the process and can therefore not be classified as
people that don't have businesses at polling units.
''Therefore,
the IGP has no constitutional right or powers under the constitution or
Police Act to rewrite the electoral law. The role of the police is to
maintain law and order or such other assistance as may be sought from
the police by INEC,'' the party said.
It also called on
Nigerians to ignore the so-called public service announcement concerning
the show of force by government security agencies, saying it is part of
efforts to intimidate the electorate and pave the way for the PDP to
rig the elections.
APC also asked Nigerians to ignore
the SMS being sent around by the agents of the PDP, asking them to send
their names and the last five digits of their VIN (Voter Identification
Number) to certain numbers.
''These and other messages
are being sent out by the PDP to steal people's PVCs, intimidate voters
and manipulate the elections. Nigerians should never allow that to
happen,'' the party said.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Lagos, March 20th 2015
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Lagos, March 20th 2015
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