APC Faults Bauchi Saturday LG’s Polls, Says It’s Marred With Irregularities

BY KHALID IDRIS DOYA, Bauchi

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi said that it was shocked that less than 12 hours to the conduct of Local Government Councils elections in the state, sensitive and non-sensitive were not provided to the designated polling stations

The party said, “As at the moment of less than 12 hours before the commencement of polls tomorrow Saturday, we have observed that BASIEC has failed to provide adequate sensitive and non-sensitive election materials, including sufficient ballot papers and result sheets, at the designated voting centers across the state”.

State APC Legal Adviser, Barr Rabiu Garba explained that the party has learnt, as gathered from credible sources, that the party has reason to believe that BASIEC intends to announce election results while voting would be in progress, which is unacceptable and a clear attempt to undermine the democratic process.

Barr. Garba also faulted that APC in Bauchi up to this hour is unaware of the identities of the presiding officers, collation officers, and returning officers for the election, despite having served the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) with an official demand letter in that regard.

He further explained that the non-provision of the election materials for the Saturday’s elections raises serious questions on the transparency and credibility of the election process, pointing out that there has been constant scheming out of the APC in almost all the meetings with critical stakeholders held by the commission concerning the elections in question.

Garba called on the general public especially the electorates to be very vigilant at this occasion to ensure hitch-free local government elections, alleging that the PDP-led Government in Bauchi to disenfranchise the citizens during the council elections in the state.

He condemned in totality, the alleged cunning move made by the PDP Government in Bauchi to disenfranchise the people of Bauchi state by compromising the State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC), Security Agencies and ad-hoc electoral officers in all the polling units across the state.