Atiku-Mutfwang Youth Campaign Council in Plateau State questions INEC’s integrity over the transfer of the commission’s staff
The Atiku-Mutfwang Youth Campaign Council in Plateau State has raised concerns about the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2023 general elections. The council has questioned the commission’s transfer of Umar Mamuud Muhammad and others, who were formerly working under the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Benue state, to the resident office of INEC in Plateau State.
The Director General of the Campaign Hitler Joshua Pwajok expressed these concerns in a press release issued on Wednesday, February 22nd. With the General Elections just days away, the council suspects that INEC’s activities may compromise the integrity of the polls.
The council has demanded that Umar Muhammad and his colleagues be immediately redeployed out of the state to restore the neutrality and unbiased nature of INEC as an umpire. The council has also questioned the deployment of Umar Muhammad to superintend over the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) department of the commission in Plateau State, where his immediate past boss, Nentawe Yilwatda, is on the ballot.
The council has also expressed concern about the activities of certain unscrupulous elements going around collecting Voter Identification Numbers (VIN) of unsuspecting voters, especially in rural areas which are PDP strongholds in Plateau State. The council believes that this may be an attempt to replicate past electoral victories in PDP strongholds.
It is essential to note that the Biomodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is considered a game-changer in guaranteeing credible, free, and fair elections in the 2023 polls. Therefore, the council believes that any person or group of persons who will superintend over the department of the commission handling such sensitive gadgets should be seen to be neutral.
The council has demanded that INEC adheres to all standard protocols to safeguard the image of the commission. The council has also assured that it is ready to monitor and examine the electoral process, the deployment of sensitive and non-sensitive materials, and monitor the performance of all gadgets for forensic review.