Vote Buying: PDP stops delegates from use of smartphones during voting

Vote Buying: PDP stops delegates from use of smartphones during voting

Saturday, October 6, 2018 9:36 pm


Davido performing at the venue of the ongoing PDP National Convention

Okafor Ofiebor /Port Harcourt
To stem the prevalent issue of vote buying during elections, and taking a cue from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the organizers of the ongoing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP convention in Port Harcourt have banned the use smartphones inside the polling booths.
The ban is coming on the heels of speculations that the aspirants are promising to pay dollars for the votes of the delegates.
Chairman of Convention Organizing Committee, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, who is also the Delta state governor confirmed the temporary ban on the use of the smartphones inside the polling booths to journalists.
As at 9 pm today Saturday  September 06 when this report was being filed, all the stands at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers State venue of the Convention have been filled by delegates who were waiting for commencement of voting.
The Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) among others were on ground to ensure smooth exercise while officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were seen controlling the movement of vehicles.
As at the time of filing this report, the aspirants were Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Alhaji Waziri Tambuwal, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, Hon. Datti Baba-Ahmed, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Sule Lamido, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, Jonah Jang and Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
Governor Okowa stated, “we are happy with the large turnout of delegates for the convention, you can see that almost all the delegates are on their designated areas and I can assure you that in few minutes time, voting will commence.”
“I commend the aspirants for the show of love for our party and our country, the voting pattern will be credible, transparent; there will be no room for anyone to know who voted for him or not, we are one family and the overall vote will determine who will be our Presidential candidate in 2019,” he said.
Continuing, “we are taking our time to conduct a very free, credible, transparent convention that will be acceptable to our party, Nigerians and all lovers of democracy.”
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state, denied rumours that some of the  presidential aspirants who recently returned to the party may be discriminated against.  He affirmed that the party’s umbrella is large enough to accommodate everyone.
On part of Femi Fani Kayode, former Minister of Aviation does not believe that the outcome of the  Convention cause crisis in the party.
Similarly, Chief Felix Obua, who is the Rivers State Chairman of PDP said that no one state delegate will be able to produce a presidential  flag bearer who will defeat President Mohammadu Buhari: “Delegates have been asked to vote according to their conscience and it is going to be as transparent as possible. We must get it right this time.”
At the time of filing this report, election was yet to start as delegates from other States were just arriving.

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