STAFF WHO SERVED UNDER DR. NENTATWE ARE CURRENTLY DEPLOYED TO INEC ICT IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE--ATIKU-MUTFWANG CAMPAIGN COUNCIL, EXPOSES

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

With less than 72 hours to the Presidential Election in Nigeria, ATIKU-MUTFWANG CAMPAIGN COUNCIL in Plateau State has exposed and raised alarm that, staff of INEC, who served under the Plateau state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda in Benue State, have being deployed to the ICT Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

HON. HITLER

While calling on Nigerians to follow peaceful means of resolving issues during these trying times in the country, the group led by its Director General, Hon. Hitler Joshua Pwajok, took time to urge INEC to redeploy these alleged staff to a different state.

“We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately redeploy Engineer Umar Mamuud Muhammad and others who were hurriedly deployed to Plateau, to be immediately redeployed out of the state to redeem itself as a neutral and unbiased umpire.

“That INEC as a commission should ensure that all standard protocols be adhered to safeguard the image of the commission”. The group urges.

The press briefing text in part read:-

HON. HITLER PWAJOK

1. Gentlemen of the Press, ladies, and gentlemen, it is with deep concern that the Atiku-Mutfwang Youth Campaign Council is addressing you 72 hours to the conduct of Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
2. We first want to empathize with Nigerians over the difficulties and frustrations orchestrated by an insensitive, incompetent, and clueless APC administration, compounded by an avoidable fuel and naira note crises. At this juncture, we urge Nigerians to avoid engaging in acts capable of jeopardizing national security and derailing our political process. We rather appeal that they direct their anger through constitutional means, at the polls by voting out the inept APC administration and return the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to power who have shown capacity and willingness to rescue our dear nation from the brink of total collapse that the APC has brought us to.
3. We have observed with keen interest activities and happenings surrounding the conduct of the 2023 General Elections, which if not addressed squarely can compromise the very integrity of the polls. This is the crux of our Press Conference.
4. It is public knowledge that shortly after the conduct of gubernatorial primaries of political parties, especially that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State which produced Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner of Benue State, presumed to be the anointed candidate of the incumbent Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong, certain activities calumniated leaving many questions desiring answers.
5. a) Was there an officially approved interstate transfer of staff by the Commission’s Headquarters? b) If there was, why will INEC be insensitive to redeploy staff of the commission from Benue State to Plateau State, particularly those who served under Dr Nentawe Yilwatda.

Considering these concerns, we hereby demand the following:-

1. i) We call on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately redeploy Engineer Umar Mamuud Muhammad and others who were hurriedly deployed to Plateau, to be immediately redeployed out of the state to redeem itself as a neutral and unbiased umpire.
2. ii) That INEC as a commission should ensure that all standard protocols be adhered to safeguard the image of the commission.
3. We are 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.
4. In conclusion, we therefore demand that INEC exonerates herself by ensuring that the neutrality of the commission is restored, to repose confidence in the process. This will go a long way in restoring assurance that the Commission still has the capacity and capability to conduct credible elections in Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole.