Wilson Adekumola
The Independent National Electoral Commission has slammed the Social Democratic Party of Cross Rivers State over calls to sign elections result sheet, saying it can’t dictate for INEC on its operation.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Cross River, Prof. Gabriel Yomere made this known in Calabar.
This was in a reaction to charge by the Social Democratic Party to sign the election result sheets for Saturday governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections in advance.
SDP had claimed that the measure would help curb and prevent irregularities during the election.
“Asking INEC to sign result sheets of an election that is yet to be conducted is laughable and uncalled for.
“I see this as an expression of fear on the part of the political party that is making such a demand.
“Why not intensify your campaigns by going house-to-house ahead of the contest instead of staying behind to dictate to INEC to do your bidding.
“INEC is not under any obligation to act according to the dictates of any political party but will operate according to guidelines for the conduct of elections,” he said.
It was gathered that SDP wrote a letter to INEC to sign the result sheets ahead of the elections.
According to the letter signed by its chairman in Cross River, Dr Ekpeyong Ambo, stated that the move would alleviate the feelings of suspicion by the stakeholders, adding, if the result of March 18 elections were in the hand of a particular party it would reassured it was not manipulated.
“Signing the election result sheets will put to rest the suspicion and rumour peddled in some quarters that result of the forthcoming March 18 elections may have been compromised by the electoral umpire,” Ambo said.