The first alarming decision made during this meeting concerns the exclusion of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the rerun election. The absence of this essential technology, which ensures transparent and credible voting, raises significant concerns. With an estimated 3,000 votes contested, it is evident that manipulating these figures would be considerably easier without the BVAS in place, especially given that the APC currently leads with over 1,600 votes.
A second critical issue raised involves the management of security forces during the rerun. It has been decided that only security personnel affiliated with the government house, particularly the police and Department of State Services (DSS), will be deployed at polling stations. This decision is particularly concerning given recent reports of the involvement of the governor's Chief Security Officer (CSO) and Aide-de-Camp (ADC) in intimidating voters and obstructing the election process in favor of the PDP. Allowing government-associated security to dominate the polling environment will undoubtedly create a biased and hostile atmosphere for voters supporting the APC.
Lastly, we have credible information indicating that the REC has accepted the sum of N250 million to facilitate this electoral malpractice. This staggering amount highlights the depths of corruption involved and raises serious questions about the integrity of the electoral body and the officials within.
In light of these revelations, the APC strongly urges the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider its stance on the use of the BVAS and to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process. The people of Zamfara State deserve free and fair elections, devoid of manipulation and coercion.
The APC remains committed to standing against such undemocratic practices and will take all necessary actions to protect the electoral rights of our supporters and constituents. We call upon all stakeholders to join us in rejecting these corrupt dealings and ensuring that the voice of the people is heard during the upcoming rerun.