PDP Govs Accuse APC of Cloning PVCs, Fake Security Uniforms For Bayelsa Poll

Ahead of the Bayelsa State governorship election slated for Saturday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has raised the alarm, alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is plotting to rig the poll using cloned Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and fake security agents.

The position of the PDP governors on the Bayelsa State governorship poll came just as the party said the people of Benue South senatorial district are solidly behind the former Senate President, Senator David Mark, to repeat his electoral victory in the rerun election ordered by the Court of Appeal.

In a statement by its Director General, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, yesterday in Abuja, the PDP Governors’ Forum said the APC had brought in Indians to effect the PVCs’ cloning in order to circumvent the electoral process in Bayelsa State since the party knows it cannot win without manipulating the system.

According to Onaiwu, the Indians, numbering five, are lodged in a hotel owned by an APC chieftain in Port Harcourt, where the card-cloning process was ongoing.

“The APC is desperate to capture Bayelsa State as an oil-producing state which fits into the party’s inordinate ambition to take over all oil-producing states which was proposed by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.
“To achieve this dangerous plan, the APC brought in five Indians, all IT experts, to help them clone PVCs for the Bayelsa State governorship election. We are raising this alarm so as to alert Nigerians, the Independent National Electorial Commission (INEC) and the international community on the machinations of the APC against democracy and the right of the people to freely elect those who should govern them.

“The INEC must demonstrate its independence and commitment to free, fair and credible election by being vigilant and ensure that it does not kowtow to the wimps and caprices of the APC by ensuring that only authentic cards are used,” the statement read.

Also, Onaiwu alleged that part of the sinister plot of the APC include the procurement of police and military uniforms for agents of the party to wear on election day to achieve their plans to rig the poll.

He urged the Inspector General of Police (IG) Mr. Sunday Arase, the DSS and military authorities to guide against the infiltration of their ranks by fake personnel of the APC.

“The forum appeals to the IG DSS and military authorities to ensure that only real personnel are on the field on election day and not fake APC agents who are already kitted in police and military uniforms to rig the Bayelsa State poll for the party.

“It is important to remind the security agencies that their failure to checkmate against any perceived illegality by the APC will seriously undermine their integrity to safeguard the people and could seriously erode the people’s confidence in the ability of the various security organs to guarantee their safety,” Onaiwu said.