CPC ALLEGES OMISSION OF LOGO FROM BALLOT PAPERS

By NBF News

The Congress for Progressive Change has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to take urgent steps to address the omission of its logo on the ballot papers in some states during the botched National Assembly election.

National Chairman of the party, Prince Tony Momoh, stated this in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Momoh, in a statement, which was also copied to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, listed the states as Osun, Jigawa, Gombe, Anambra, Imo and Rivers.

It quoted Momoh as saying, 'I want to draw your attention to the information we have received from all over the country that in many constituencies, the CPC logo was not on the ballot paper.

'This information has come to us from places as far apart as Ogun, Jigawa, Gombe, Anambra, Imo and Rivers States where voting seemed to have started before the announcement putting off the election was made.

'We believe that free and fair elections include providing the opportunity for all those who have been registered to vote to do so.'

Momoh said the absence of the party's logo from the ballot papers could prevent its supporters from voting for those they believe could bring the change they desired.

He said that the situation was embarrassing because it was not national.

Momoh said it was also provocative and a proof of an open denial of a people's right to exercise their constitutional duty to vote candidates of their choice.

He expressed gratitude to God that the election was put off and appealed to INEC to ensure that the CPC was not denied full participation in the elections.

Momoh said, 'Our appeal is that you ensure that in the elections you conduct which you have promised the whole world will be free, fair and transparent that the CPC is not denied full participation.'

'We believe elections should be won through the ballot, not in courts which have proved to have problems of their own.'

When contacted, INEC spokesman, Mr. Kayode Idowu confirmed the absence of the logos of some political parties and said that it was part of the reason for rescheduling the elections.

Idowu said the commission would address the issue before Saturday, adding that INEC had already retrieved ballot papers from states with similar problem.