Atiku rejects use of Incident Forms for 2019 poll

PEOPLE’S Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has kicked against the alleged move by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the controversial Incident Forms in the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

The electoral body had, on several occasions in 2018, hinted that it would eliminate the use of the Incident Forms in the coming elections.

However, the commission made a U-turn a few days ago, insisting that the Incident Forms would be used in the election. The Incident Forms are used where the Smart Card Reader failed to read the voters fingerprints.

In a statement yesterday by his Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, the PDP presidential candidate rejected the decision on the use of the Incident Forms.

The statement said: “This is unacceptable to the PDP and Atiku Abubakar. Any decision to use incident forms in the February 16, 2019 elections is an attempt to toe the line of President Muhammadu Buhari, who thrice refused to sign the amended Electoral Act, for fear of the use of card readers, which would prevent rigging by desperate power mongers.

“Atiku Abubakar notes that data from the 2015 elections show that 75% of the almost 14 million people who voted without biometric accreditation in 2015, were linked to Muhammadu Buhari.

“Atiku Abubakar notes that data from the 2015 elections show that 75% of the almost 14 million people who voted without biometric accreditation in 2015, were linked to Muhammadu Buhari.

“There are no reliable and accurate means of knowing who those voters were and whether they were genuine voters or sham voters. This disproportionate number of voters, who voted without biometric accreditation in 2015, affected the integrity of those elections and we hold the INEC to its oft-repeated promise not to use anything but the Smart Card Readers and PVCs for the 2019 elections.

“We know that the Muhammadu Buhari administration has been desperate to avoid the use of Smart Card Readers and PVCs for the 2019 elections and the reported volte face by the INEC can only raise concerns about the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau.

“Atiku Abubakar reminds the INEC that the world is watching and Nigerians are alert to see if the present chairman and board of INEC would place national interests above narrow oligarchic interest.”