The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused by the People’s Democratic Party of misleading Nigerians with its promise of significant technological advancements in preparation for the upcoming 2023 general elections. Expressing their concerns, Umar Damagum, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, made these assertions in Abuja on a Thursday. This standpoint was shared during a meeting with a delegation from the Kukah Centre, led by Atta Barkindo, the Executive Director. The PDP disclosed that they had initially held an optimistic view, assuming that INEC would create a fair and impartial environment in which all political parties and candidates could participate in competitive electoral campaigns.
“It was a free and fair election that made PDP lose power in 2015, but since these people came into power, they have been making promises that never see the light of the day. Let’s take the recent election for instance. All the modifications and electoral transformation, technology-driven and whatever; we were very sure it was a genuine thing, without knowing they were selling a dummy to us. We relaxed and we were caught sleeping. We won an election that was manipulated. However, the party is mindful of following the legal process. That is why we still have relative peace in the country today because everybody knew what happened. We will continue to seek redress through the constitutional process,” Damagum remarked during the event.
During discussions with the delegation, he clarified that the PDP’s symbolic umbrella provided a refuge, creating an environment for smaller opposition political parties to flourish. This, he emphasized, was a significant contribution by the party to the advancement of democracy.
Damagun further explained, “Our democracy is developing. Smaller parties are springing up and they had some of their members elected recently. During the internal election at the National Assembly, we were able to carry them along. You can see the Labour Party, the New Nigeria People’s Party, and so on. During the election, were able to carry them along and conceded to them some deputy positions. If we wanted to take all the minority seats, we would have done so because we are more than them in number, but we conceded two seats to them each.”
Nevertheless, he went on to clarify that while those elected to the various minority positions in the National Assembly elections understood the possibility of having their personal interests, it was underscored to them that the party’s greater interest remained paramount.
“We have told them clearly. You know when you are electing a leader, there are so many interests. They may have their personal interest and what have you but while they may be doing this, the position of the party is supreme. They should be able to carry other smaller parties along. Very soon, you will start hearing noises from the National Assembly from the way they are going now,” he said.
Umar Bature, the National Organising Secretary of the PDP, also spoke at the event, conveying that the party has consistently upheld the value of inclusivity, aiming to provide vulnerable groups like individuals with disabilities and women a sincere sense of belonging.
Bature added, “We gave them waivers on the purchase of forms. The Governor of Akwa Ibom is an albino (Damagum chips in). In fact, one of our governors said every vice chairman of a local government must be a woman. These are some of the things we encourage. We expected the youths to take advantage of the opportunities here rather than just sit down and type on the computer.”
Initiating his remarks, Barkindo informed the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) that he and his team had convened at the party’s national secretariat to discuss methods of enhancing internal democracy, promoting pluralism, and ensuring fairness within the nation’s political system. Notably, the PDP team included the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and the Acting National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo. The Kukah Centre’s delegation comprised key members such as Esrom Ajanya, the Program Manager; Mackit Rendep, the Director of Communication and Research; Stephen Klanzama and political expert Emeka Diru.
