PDP wants int’l audit firms KPMG, PwC to verify retrieved electoral materials

Reactions from political parties on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) suspension of last Saturday’s presidential election have not stopped flying. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, in a fresh statement, called for international audit to verify all the sensitive electoral materials that were said to have been retrieved by INEC.

The main opposition party particularly suggested either of the two audit firms, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers, be engaged in the verification of the materials which were returned to various Central Bank offices across the nation after the general elections got deferred from earlier commencement date of last Saturday.

It also expressed support for the Commission’s “perceived resistance to pressure” to implement a partial postponement. This, according to the party, would not have been in the best interests of democracy in Nigeria.

PDP’s position was contained in a Monday letter authored by its National Chairman, Uche Secondus, dated February 17, and addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

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Speaking on behalf of the PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Secondus urged Yakubu to address certain questions, which, he said PDP raised but were not answered during the press conference where INEC announced the postponement of the 2019 general elections early Saturday morning in Abuja.

Secondus said, “We asked and you agreed to independent verification that sensitive materials returned to the CBN offices at state levels have not been tampered with.

“We believe it makes sense to appoint one company to verify both issues or, on the issue of sensitive materials, we can use the party officials and observers.”

He stated that once the choice of an audit firm is agreed upon, PDP would agree to the methodology and the minimum number of units to represent a statistically significant number.

He added that, given the short time frame, the appointment of the audit firm should be made by Monday, February 18 (today).

“Finally, at the Press conference, you stated that you have evidence of ‘sabotage.’ We would be grateful if you could confirm the specific incidents you have identified?” Secondus said.

By Precious Akpadaka…

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