9th June, 2022
The Resident Electoral Commissioner,
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),
Makurdi, Benue State.
Sir,
LETTER OF PROTEST
It has come to our knowledge the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rescheduled the conduct of her Governorship/State Assembly Primaries for Wednesday/Thursday (08-09/06/2022) in twelve (12) out to the twenty-three (23) local government areas in the state (see Appendix ‘A’ as attached).
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Benue State Chapter hereby protests this conduct for the following reasons:-
i. It violets Article 1.2 of the Commission’s (INEC) Regulations and Guidelines for Political Party Operations which requires at least a seven (7) days’ notice for such exercise. In effect, the All Progressives Congress (APC) had violated Section 148 of the Electoral Act, 2022 which empowers the Commission (INEC) to issue regulations, guidelines or manuals for purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Act and for its administration;
ii. We state on good authority that there is no correspondence from the INEC headquarters in Abuja instructing your office to monitor the rescheduled primaries;
iii. Refer to INEC’s letter to PDP in respect of Imo State rescheduled Congresses which ordered for compliance with the above cited provision. (Attached as Appendix ‘B’)
PRAYER
On account of the above cited violations of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines, we pray that your office should steer clear of monitoring the illegal exercise by the APC in Benue State.
Joseph Ianna Nyam, PhD
Secretary
Hon. Sir John Ngbede
Chairman.
Copy of the letter reads:
