2019 election: 61 political parties reject INEC guidelines, list demands

A total of 61 political parties have rejected what they described as obnoxious clauses inserted into the election guidelines by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Imo Ugochinyere, National Chairman of the Action Peoples Party (APP) made the announcement on Friday.

He said the parties demand the retention of 2011 and 2015 separate accreditation time and separate voting time to forestall rigging.

Ugochinyere further listed the following: “Political parties demands announcement of accreditation figures by 12noon on election day and recorded in a signed form and given to party agents before voting starts to forstall doctoring of election figures during collation.

“Political parties demand stoppage of PVC collection 10 days to election and disclosure of the total number of PVC collected on polling unit basis to political parties.

“Political parties rejects the clauses in the guideline which allows unduly accredited voters to vote especially the clause that allows voters with PVC whose name is not in the register of voters to vote.

“Political parties demands transparency in collation and transmission of results with accredited representatives of Election observers and political parties monitoring.

“Political parties rejects the creation or usage of secret polling units called voting point settlement and demand full list and location of such units.

“Political parties demand INEC meets with party chairmen before final release of the Election guidelines.

“Political Parties demands the redeployment of Amina Zakari as head of collation centre and replacement with Federal Commissioner incharge of Operation, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu to ensure credibility and balancing.

“Political Parties rejects the use of former Youth corpers and staff of federal govt agencies as Adhoc Staff

“Parties threatens to pass vote of no confidence on INEC chairman if he goes ahead to release the contentious guideline on Monday without further consultation with Political Parties Chairmen”.