The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State has rejected the entire results of Saturday’s local government elections in the state, saying that the results as announced by the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) were mere political chicanery and mischievous shenanigan masterminded by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Local government elections were conducted in the state last Saturday for the first time in over 12 years with the ruling PDP clearing all the 20 chairmanship seats and the 323 councillorship seats in the state.
With a formal announcement of the results of the elections, which witnessed voters’ apathy, the state Governor Bala Mohammed, sworn in the newly elected council chairmen in Bauchi on Sunday and charged them to move closer to the people at the grassroots.
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Addressing a press conference in Bauchi, the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Ahmed Uba Nana, described the elections as a ploy by the PDP-led state government to deprive the people of the state their constitutionally guaranteed right to exercise their franchise.
The Electoral Commission Chairman thereafter presented certificates of return to all the winners and their Deputies in compliance with the Electoral laws and regulations.
The successful Chairmen are Yusuf Garba – Alkaleri; Muhammad BabaMa’aji – Bauchi; Iliya Habila – Bogoro; Waziri Ayuba – Dambam; Mahmud Bello – Darazo and Muhammad Suleiman – Dass.
AOthers are: Babayo Kasuwa – Gamawa; Dayabu Dariya – Ganjuwa; Usama Saleh – Giade; Abdullahi Maigari – Itas/Gadau; Samaila Jarma – Jama’are; Abdullahi Kuda – Katagum and Garba Musa – Kirfi
Also elected are: Abubakar Muhammad – Misau; Mahmud Hassan – Ningi; Mahmud Abbaa – Shira; Danjuma Mazadu – Tafawa Balewa; Adamu Babanyaro – Toro; Adamu Muhammad – Warji and Yahuza Abdulkadir – Zaki.
However, the state chapter of the APC has rejected the result of the poll.
The party alleged that security personnel was used by the PDP and the State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) in making false declaration of winners.
The APC chairman declared that what happened during the elections was clearly robbery, which he said his party completely disassociated itself from.
“As a political party, the APC totally disassociated itself from the broad-day robbery of the peoples’ mandate and shall within the confines of the law, strive to restore the said mandate as soon as practicable,” Uba Nana said.
According to him, any persons sworn into office based on the unlawful PDP/BASIEC results are only occupying the seats illegally and without the support of the people.
He, however, said that his party would not approach the state local government elections petition tribunal, which was inaugurated on 13 October 2020, adding that APC will not get justice from the tribunal.
Uba Nana called on security agencies in the state to comply with their constitutional role of protecting the lives and property of citizens, adding that they should not allow themselves to be useful tools in the hands of the state government to victimize APC members in the state.
He then called on his party members and other stakeholders in the state to remain law-abiding, assuring them that the party will do everything possible within the confines of the law to restore its mandate as given by the people of the state during the elections.
