A group, Coalition of Youths for Proper Democratic Change (CYPDC), yesterday raised the alarm over an alleged plan by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use the security forces to rig the poll.
It urged the Nigerian Army to transfer the Commander, Army Records Office in Lokoja, the state capital, saying he might be compromised during the poll.
The group said it arrived at this conclusion based on the Army officer’s ‘constant romance’ with the PDP-led government in the state.
In a statement by its chairman, Mallam Zubairu Abdullahi, the group said: “Information available to us shows that hundreds of Hilux pick-up jeeps have been purchased by the PDP-led state government to be used by thugs, who will disguise in military and police uniforms to forcefully rig the election by snatching ballot boxes, changing figures and scaring away eligible voters from exercising their civic responsibility.
“As part of their evil strategy to win the forthcoming governorship election at all cost, Police Commissioner Joseph Amana Abakasanga, who has refused to be part of their plan, has been transferred from the state, using their connection with the Federal Government. The Army barracks in Lokoja is also being considered to be used as one of their illegal thumb-printing centres during the election.”
It urged security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders in the conduct of the election to be transparent and honest in discharging their duties during and after the election.
The group said it would mobilise the manpower with necessary gadgets to monitor the election and expose nefarious activities of any person or group of persons that may attempt to rig the election.
It urged the Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim to monitor the activities of his men who will be posted to the state on election duty to ensure that the election is free, fair and credible.
The group said any policemen found wanting in the discharge of his responsibilities during the poll should be made to face justice.
