Speaker Yakubu Dogara
By Baba Shehu Oscu, Bauchi
The Bauchi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Abubakar is hell-bent on subverting the will of the people by causing unnecessary tension with regards to last Saturday’s election.
The chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Hamza Koshe Akuyam, made the allegation while reacting to media reports that APC in Bauchi has called for the cancellation of election results of Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency.
He said, “the press release by APC Chairman Alhaji Uba Nana calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the cancellation of the result of the election of Dogara due to what APC described as irregularities and malpractice was misleading”.
According to him, “the call for cancellation of the Saturday election which Speaker Dogara won overwhelmingly demonstrates hate, mischief and a calculated attempt by Governor Abubakar to cause confusion.
“Governor Abubakar was so desperate to stop the re-election of Speaker Yakubu Dogara that he allegedly drove to Dass in an Opel Vetra car in his effort to manipulate the results of the election which was conducted peacefully in the three Local Governments the speaker represents in the House of Representatives”, the PDP Chairman alleged.
He maintained that free, fair, and credible election was conducted with no adverse reaction from domestic or international observers with regards to the credibility of the exercise, as such, Akuyam said the claim by the APC is false.
He alleged that APC members tried to cause confusion in some polling units so that there will be reason to declare the election as inconclusive but didn’t succeed because PDP had informed its supporters to be peaceful before, during and after the elections.
“As a lawyer and former REC, His Excellency ought to have known that once a candidate has been declared winner of an election, the only option for his opponent is to go to the Election Petition Tribunal”. Alhaji Akuyam said.
He explained that press release by the APC was a confirmation of failed plots aimed at subverting the wishes of Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro people whom Dogara represents.
The PDP chairman urged INEC, other authorities and the general public to disregard the claims by Alhaji Ahmed Uba Nana and the APC as according to him, the issue raised in the press release is a diversionary tactic by a drowning party.
