By Danlami Nmodu
The USA chapter of Nigeria’s opposition All Progressives Congress, APC has kicked against calls for postponement of this months general elections in Nigeria.
A statement signed by Francis John,president of the chapter said “APC USA International Secretariat, membership and advisory committee under the able leadership of Prof Isa Odidi (Canada), Director General Diaspora/APC Buhari Campaign Organization unanimously kick against the postponement. The call for postponement is election fraud and wanting to deprive anxious Nigerians from performing their civic rights and responsibilities. Enough is enough, Nigerians can’t be fooled anymore.
The group however cautioned that “Electoral fraud or vote rigging is illegal interference with the process of an election, not limited to the calls for 2015 February election postponement.
“All we are saying, Nigerians need to vote come February 14th and expect nothing less than free and fair, and we shall not comprise rigging and interim government. It’s very unpopular and unnecessary for the incumbent to call for postponement and unacceptable.
The statement said further “Even if the outcome is not affected, fraud can still have a damaging effect if not punished, as it can reduce voters’ confidence in Nigerian democracy. Even thinking of fraud is very damaging is crucial and the electorate less inclined to accept election results. Fraudulent elections can lead to the total breakdown of democracy and the establishment or ratification of a dictatorship. This is anticipated and reason why APC USA International Secretariat Call on Nigerians to Stand up and Vote Wisely at February 14th 2015 Poll.
“As patriotic Nigerians regardless of our religious and ethnic linage, we are committed to peace, unity and the progress of our birthplace, and it mandatory to draw attention to a more concise definition is provided for in Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that elections must be periodic, genuine, organized according to universal suffrage, and by secret ballot.
Also, the statemet said “in support of APC Secretariat andthe peace loving Nigerians APC USA International Secretariat decided to put together tips to win February 14th election in Nigeria and subsequent ones, most of these areas are being ignored and overlooked.
The tips outlined in the statement include that “All Party Agents must sign service level agreement; to maintain highest level of privacy and confidentiality and must provide copies of their national identity cards and or international passports (either must be sited and recorded), including 3 three reputable guarantors. Take picture of either identifications and have the information sent to reliable backup server. At the parties’ discretion, take their finger prints
“Have three (3) undercover personnel at local INEC offices, polling stations and later monitoring a couple of locations. None of these personnel should know each, to avoid collaboration to rig the election because of the unknown and could be working for another party;
“Returning and presiding officers, use trusted retired soldiers e.g. from the rank of major and sergeants as Party Polling Agents;
“All Party Agents must speak local languages and familiar with the neighborhoods, including escape routes;
“Closing: These are what we expect as we count down to election and head for the polls to elect leaders in the General Elections. The electorate should be free to make their choice, and should not be manipulated while making their decision. They should not be bribed to vote for a particular candidate, with this, we will elect the best candidate that will rebuild and give us a better Nigeria that we have always wanted;
“All Party Agent must be provided with correct addresses, in road and out roads, location direction, maps, and if possible emergency outlets, including hospital and police station numbers;
“All Party Agents must know the nearest hospital and police station and if ever at the police station must take the name of police officer, the rank, name of the DPO and DCO, time a the location and location of the station and must be accompanied by at least a witness;
“Encourage paid volunteerism and grant incentive for participation, to persuade for future participation in party polls;
“Have a central call center for receiving all calls to monitor election, complains. All calls must be recorded for evidential purposes.
“Counting must be completed on site and in the presence of all witnesses and if need be call for reinforcement of security and maintain constant communication with responsible party secretariat;
“Party Agents must be aware of early warning signs and know legitimate first responders and should be conversant with standard first aid;
“Party Agents must be provided with comprehensive family life insurance, to assist for relatives in the event of accidents;
“Party Agents should carry on them limited cash;
“All strangers that show up at polling station, must introduce he/herself by showing proper identity card and reasons for showing up, immediately contact party secretariat and record information/conversations appropriately;
“Party Agents must have transportation with at least half gas tank and vehicle must be in good driving condition, with current vehicle insurance and avoid driving in a strangers vehicle;
“Call center/Receiving center, all calls and complains received desires prompt attention and directed to supervisors and document as needed;
“For safety reasons, dress code, Agent must dress smartly and never overdress;
“Agents must carry lunch packs and water to avoid unnecessary movements and rigging maneuvers. For the use of restrooms, agent must ensure two standby agents are available, report the movement to the secretariat and the names of agents standing in, time out and time in. this will safeguard false allegations.
”Party Agents must be able to read and write legible, healthy, visual, sound knowledge of party policy, procedures, recordings, report writings and documentation;
“Party secretariat must keep communication with polling agents, and all phone numbers must be confidential, etc.;
“Communication gadget is a vital instrument at elections: charge your phone to full capacity, carry extra charged-battery, ignore irrelevant calls and avoid unrelated election calls, reduce the volume of ringing tone to a considerate volume and talk with caution while on phone and pay attention to the surroundings with 100% attention to the ballot box. When an Agent is assigned new phone or communication gadget, take a few hours or a day to acquaint yourself with its manipulation and function. Every phone is different, do not assume you know every phone and no phone is same, follow operation manual. Backup or write out important numbers on paper and safely keep on Agent;
“Know your colleagues and party agents by face, agents may adopt speaking on coded languages;
“If you have to eat-get snacks from a nearby store, do not accept food from strangers and other agents, for avoidance of food poisoning, likewise, don’t accept liquid for avoidance of intoxication, etc.
“Know steps to help voters, pay attention to the voters and never engage in long discussions; be short and precise, avoid INECs responsibilities (understand INECs functions and step in when INEC overshoot instructions and do not trust any INEC official, mostly INEC are the other party’s loyalist and may have accepted gratifications). Always remember you are authorized party representative and ardent observer;
“The secretariat , Keep records of all participants (presiding, returning and agents), call for feedback and frequent trainings to acquaint participants with latest developments;
“When declared victorious keep in constant communication with all participants and pick a date to get together to celebrate success and recognize each individual efforts and issue participants certificate of victory.
The group said “Even though February 14th is Valentine’s Day, we urge Nigerians to sacrifice that day by showing love and affection for APC and engage in voting as lovers and families for the advancement of our beloved nation. We all have a mandatory roll at this poll and Nigerians expect nothing less than a free and fair election as practiced globally; electorates must be allowed to vote for their preferred candidate under a condition that is most favorable and conducive.
“We shall not allow the law abiding citizens and electorates to be humiliated, manipulated, intimidation, disenfranchised, bullyed, prosecuted for needing to perform their civic rights, APC USA International Secretariat have alerted all stakeholders to show concern. Because of the forgoing in Nigerian we recommend the amendment of Electoral Act to prescribe serious punishment for those identified and proven to have committed electoral fraud.
