The Peoples Democratic Party has suggested that the Independent National Electoral Commission should allow either of two audit firms — KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers — to verify all the sensitive electoral materials that were returned to the various Central Bank offices across the nation after the deferral of the general elections earlier scheduled to commence last Saturday.
It also expressed support for the Commission’s “perceived resistance to pressure” to implement a partial postponement.
This would not have been in the best interests of democracy in Nigeria, the main opposition party said.
The PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, made the party’s position known in a letter dated February 17 and addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, which was made available to journalists on Monday.
Speaking on behalf of the PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Secondus urged Yakubu to address certain questions, which, he said, PDP raised but were not answered during the press conference where INEC announced the postponement of the 2019 general elections early Saturday morning in Abuja.
Secondus sought confirmation that Activate Technologies Ltd will have no involvement in the collection and reconfiguration of any card reader when they are taken to state level.
He also asked to have the new date and time of February 23 election programmed into them.
Secondus said, “We asked and you agreed to independent verification that sensitive materials returned to the CBN offices at state levels have not been tampered with.
“We believe it makes sense to appoint one company to verify both issues or, on the issue of sensitive materials, we can use the party officials and observers.”
He suggested two companies from which one could be chosen — KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
He stated that once the choice of an audit firm is agreed upon, PDP would agree to the methodology and the minimum number of units to represent a statistically significant number.
Secondus added that, given the short time frame, the appointment of the audit firm should be made by Monday, February 18 (today).
“Finally, at the Press conference, you stated that you have evidence of ‘sabotage.’ We would be grateful if you could confirm the specific incidents you have identified?” Secondus said.