.. I’m going to court – PDP Candidate
People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) Senatorial Candidate in Kaduna Central, Lawal Adamu Usman (MR LA) and People’s Redemption Party (PRP) have described the February 23rd Presidential and National Assembly (NASS) election in Kaduna central senatorial district as a sham and call for its cancellation.
PDP Senatorial Candidate and PRP in their separate press conference in Kaduna, commended the people of all the seven local government areas that make up his designated constituency for their support and the roles played by community leaders, the youth, women and multitude of independent voters to ensure their ‘victory’ at the polls.
Usman however said that, he would be challenging the outcome of the election, which favours the APC candidate, Malam Uba Sani in the court of law.
According to him, “we however find it saddening, embarrassing and ridiculous that the state government and the ruling party in the state went as low as to temper with the mandate voluntarily and collectively given by the people; a mandate freely given and universally acknowledged.
“Consequent upon this, and for the avoidance of doubt, we state here that we are committed to exploring all available lawful, constitutional and democratic windows to ensure that the people’s stolen mandate is reclaimed and restored.
There is no doubt the election was rigged and manipulated by the ruling party in the state and it must not be allowed to stand because it is not the will of the people.
“Accordingly, we hereby announce in categorical terms that we reject the process that led to the announcement of that manipulated, fabricated and concocted results, and call for their immediate cancellation.
“We wish to reiterate the call for all the people of Kaduna State, and in particular the good people of Kaduna Central District not to relent in their democratic struggle for a meaningful in the state – a change we can see, feel and use – by coming out en masse once again to assert their right to select leaders that would responsibly shape their future.
“Notwithstanding the ugly and shameful act of desperation shown by the state government and the ruling party, we remain committed to the overall peace of the state and communal harmony based on our abiding faith that only God gives power to whomever He wills,” he said.
At its own press conference addressed by the state chairman, Abdulrahman Haruna Danbirni, PRP said, “we condemn the last Presidential and National Assembly elections, as it ridiculed our Democratic participation of one-man one-vote in which each vote must count.
“It is sad that the election that has costs Nigerian a colossal sum of money and a great deal of time to prepare ended as a charade and a rape to our democratic process.
“Inundated with electoral irregularities, we are left with no option than to throw away the baby with the bathwater. Our agents from across the state have flooded us with reports of electoral irregularities, most prominent and widespread are: Alteration of results, vote-buying and non-accreditation of voters before casting their votes, non-application or deliberate bye-passing of card readers and the use of financial inducements and vote buying was business of the day on date of the election.
“The ruling party was seen openly engaged in buying votes from the electorate using cash and other valuables. APC Local Government Chairmen in the state were seen sharing money and materials openly to voters in election centres in order to win their votes.
“This open show of partisanship by public office holders is an indictment on their presumed non-artisanship and a testimony of the misuse of public funds for political gains.” He said.
Other irregularities alleged by the PRP include, over-voting in most polling units, cancellation of results in almost all the polling units that did not favour the ruling party, non-availability of result sheets in most of the polling units and intimidation and open partisanship of security personnel.
“For instance, in Birnin-Gwari and Giwa, Kajuru, Igabi, Birnin-Gwari and other local governments, security personnel were used to intimidate and scare away voters perceived to be in opposition to the ruling party.
“Another particular point of note is over-voting where the total number of ballots cast exceeds the number of accredited voters, which have been reported in most local governments and our agents have protested to no avail.
“INEC presiding officers have been fingered for numerous electoral malfeasances, where officials connived with the ruling party to manipulate results in its favour.
“It is also an established fact that the ruling party has replaced trained polling personnel with its cronies to aid in the manipulation of results to its favour.
“We therefore reject the complicity of INEC and the role of the security and the APC-led government in deploying state resources to aid the party in its mission to rig elections in its favour.
“We therefore call for the cancellation, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections in Zone II by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” said PRP.