Bisina Somto, PBA Journalism MenteeCultural Credibility Development Initiative (CDD), a socio-political group, has called for an open investigation of the claims made by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) about alleged plans to suspend the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) for voter accreditation during the 2023 general election and purported existence of fake records in the INEC national voter register.
CUPP made the allegation in a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday where it claimed that it got the information through independent intelligence gathering.
It equally claimed that there were plans to use a court order to stop the use of BIVAS during the election, adding that a suit was secretly filed since August 24 to that effect.
CCD in a statement released on Thursday, signed by its president, Chief Goddy Uwzurike, and Secretary, Steve Nwabuko, urged the Department of State Services, the Police, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigeria Bar Association, and NGOs to be involved in the investigation to unravel the truth, noting that there are fears that such attempt if found to be true, are geared towards rigging the 2023 elections.
The group also extended its call to the National Judicial Council, the highest judicial body in the country, to wade into the matter and find out the truth in order to restore public confidence in the judiciary.
Part of the statement reads, “We the members of Credibility Group have noted with alarm the revelations that have been appearing in the past 24 hours concerning the 2023 elections.
“The respected CUPP, a political association of parties has exposed a humongous plan afoot to manipulate the 2023 elections in the country. Part of the plan is the secretive and esoteric court case seeking many hideous reliefs.
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“While we are still distilling the INEC voters register where citizens’ genders are no longer properly reflected, the legal mumbo-jumbo filed by Abazie Esq, the same Abazie Esq has stated, without equivocation, that he did not file any such suit.”
The group noted with concern that the situation has become very curious as to who is innocent and who is guilty hence the need for a thorough investigation.
“Credibility formally seeks an open investigation involving the NUJ, Nigeria Bar Association, the DSS, the Police and the NGOs.
“This evil facing us must not be swept under the carpet. The fear is that the rigging of the 2023 election has been set in motion.
“To restore our confidence in the judiciary, the NJC must not wait for a petition to find its way to its office before any action can be taken.”
The CDD said it wants to know among other things, “who is responsible for the voter register just published (the alleged fake voter records), who is financing the suit, and who is financing the derailing of 2023 elections.”
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