Bauchi APC accuses PDP of alleged plans to rig LG Election

By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi

The All Progressive Congress in Bauchi State has alleged that it has uncovered plans by the People Democratic Party in the State to rig the local government elections slated for 17th of August 2024.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the State APC Publicity Committee Chairman,Malam Saadu Umar
and made available to journalists in the State.

The party recalled that Governor
Bala Mohammed in October 2020, conducted the worst Local Government election ever in the history of Bauchi State, alleging that the elections was marred by irregularities and manipulations

The APC in the state said that the Governor should demonstrate true leadership as a true democrat by refraining from making any statement suggestive of political interference in the entire process.

“Governor Bala Mohammed should concentrate on confronting his own demons instead of engaging in sciamachy. It is not surprising though, for whenever there is an election, which he is not in charge of, Governor Mohammed appears to panic–induced by his guilty conscience, re-enforcing the saying “A thief believes everybody steals”.

“Make no mistake,President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not interfere,
neither in Edo nor in Ondo off-season Governorship Elections. President Tinubu did not interfere in the Bayelsa Governorship Election held on 11th November 2023 where Governor Douye Diri of the PDP won his re election. INEC of today and since Attahiru Jega, is quite different from the INEC of Iwu during the dark days of the PDP”

“This INEC, under the APC,conducted many off-season elections where opposition parties
won. Anambra, Bayelsa and Osun are examples. President Tinubu and this INEC are unlike Bala Mohammed who in October 2020, conducted the worst Local Government election”

“I personally experienced Governor Bala’s rape of election. I was the chairmanship candidate of the APC in Toro Local government Area.Bala wrote the elections results in his house, days to the phantom election and announced the results before ballot boxes reached the polling booths”

“Now that Governor Mohammed is compelled by the Supreme Court to conduct another Local Government elections in Bauchi –over a year after he falsely Promised to conduct the election in six months;

“We urge him to practice that which he preached to the President and INEC in Enugu.Qaura and the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission must, to borrow his words, “ensure that campaigns are issues-based, violence free and in strict compliance with the provisions of the electoral law”and
“provide a level playing field that guarantees transparent, fair and
unimpeachable elections as any act of bias will be totally resisted.”

“We equally urge Mohammed to, again, in his words to show leadership as a true democrat by refraining from making any statement suggestive of political interference in the entire process.” he said

Reacting to the allegation made by the APC in the State, the Bauchi state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dismissed the allegation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the coming local government elections will not be free and fair.

The State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Yayanuwa Zainabari described the APC in the state as a Non-existent opposition party in Bauchi state, pointing out that the members are not coherent as all they know how to do is to talk on non existent issues.

“The PDP and the Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir are the best thing to have happened to Bauchi state in the last 5 years. You can see all over the state the developmental projects that have been executed for the good of the people of the state.”

“From all indications, the APC is not prepared for the elections because it does not have credible candidates that can win elections in the state. Let them just come and join the PDP for a better Bauchi State.” he said

Yayanuwa Zainabari pointed out that the PDP has since conducted its primaries and elected candidates for all of the 323 political Wards in the state as well as the Chairmanship candidates of the 20 LGAs in an atmosphere of understanding and consensus.

“The Governor is a Democrat and gave every aspirant a level playing field unlike in some places where the list of candidates will be drafted from the Governor’s Office and imposed on the party. All the stakeholders were duly and fully involved in the processes” he added

The PDP State image marker assured that the elections will be conducted in an atmosphere of peace while the outcome will be free, fair, and acceptable to all.