Group Accuses INEC Director Of Using Fake Form To Register ‘APC’

Attahiru Jega

THE last is yet to be heard of the alleged registration of the African Peoples Congress (APC), as a group of concerned Nigerians yesterday accused a key official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of being the brain behind it.

The group, led by a member of the Save Nigeria Group, Salihu Aminu Mahmoud, further claimed that the sponsors of the new party, which was unveiled on Thursday in Abuja, used a fake INEC registration form.
Mahmoud said the INEC official, who works at the Directorate of Party Registration of the commission colluded with one of the aides of President Goodluck Jonathan to hurriedly apply for the registration of “APC” as part of a plot to block the registration of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
But when contacted, Mr. Kayode Idowu, the media aide to the National Chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, declined to comment on the issue, saying: “There are different manners of things being said about INEC. All I can say for now is no comment on the issue.”
Flanked by Abdul Mahmoud, Mamoud Abdullahi and Kawu Idris Hausawa, Mahmoud said the INEC official, hurriedly arranged for the fake computer-printed INEC form, ensured it was filled, stamped and acknowledged receipt of it between March 1 and 5 until it evidenced its receipt on March 12.
Mahmoud, who brandished alleged copies of the computer-printed form, expressed concern that a body like INEC, created by an Act of the National Assembly, not only has card-carrying members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its midst but could descend to the level of taking sides with the PDP.
The group further questioned the rationale behind INEC decision to accept an application to register the ‘APC’ from a legal firm, knowing that there was precedent as in the case of when INEC years ago had to insist that it can only take request for registration of a political party from either the chairman or the secretary of the party seeking registration.
Other oddities about the “APC” registration form is that it has blocked columns filled with the computer as against the original INEC form that is usually filled in handwriting and the green colour of the form as against the yellowish or sea green colour of the original INEC form.
He further pointed at the colours of the coat of arms on the fake registration form, which is different from that of the original INEC form, and the computer-engineered logo as against the practice of affixing the logo of a party seeking registration on the original INEC form.
Mahmoud also pointed at the inconsistencies in the signatures of the chairman and secretary of the “APC” to buttress the point that it was a desperate attempt to stop the all progressive congress (APC) by all means.