The Sokoto State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has rejected the results of the local government elections in the state, saying the Saturday polls were marred by irregularities.
A statement by the chapter secretary, Kabir Aliyu, described the election as a sham, saying as it was characterised by rigging.
“The whole exercise was a sham and marred by irregularities in spite of assurance of free and fair election by His Excellency, Governor of Sokoto State and other organs handling the exercise.
“It was highly disappointing as the election was characterized by massive rigging, ballot box snatching, use of soldiers and other apparatus of state security to intimidate, arrest and molest our party agents, supporters and unleashing of area boys to attack our party accredited supervisors during their assignment.
“The result sheets of the election were filled and winners announced publicly by 8:00 to 9:00am at some of the polling units (while) in some places when the accreditation of the voters was on process.
“The result sheets of some local governments were filled in on the eve of election day.
“Prior to the Election Day, our candidates were intimidated, coerced and threatened to withdraw from the election after several attempts of their lives and destruction of their property.
“When and where they failed, they resorted to the arbitrary use of public and private media to announce the withdrawal of such candidates.
“The APC led government in the state in collaboration with the state electoral body manipulated ballot papers to exclude PDP logo in some local government areas such as in the case of Gudu Local Government Area, in order to weaken our stronghold area.
“The state electoral body in collaboration with the ruling APC deliberately omitted from the result sheet a column for recording number of accredited intending voters from the main sheet to add their numbers.
“The PDP sadly sympathize with many of our supporters and well-wishers that suffered injuries due to brutal attacks, arrest or detention by some hired security personnel include use of soldiers to harass and intimidate them by the order of some agents of APC at various places, especially at Goronyo, Bodinga, Tambuwal, Kebbe, Binji, Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Dange Shuni and Rabah local governments respectively.
“PDP wishes to commend the gallant efforts of thousands of its supporters, well-wishers around the state who stand firmly to ensure justice and fairness in spite of numerous intimidation, coercion, abuses and political attacks by certain individuals, majority of who are holding government public offices that see nothing in politics but hatred and intimidation.
“Therefore, the party is hereby registering its disappointment with the double standard of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who during his state-wide broadcast assured the oppositions, and good people of Sokoto State with credible and fair election, but intentionally lied and produce the worst election ever conducted by any state electoral commission in Nigeria.
“In view of this and many other issues raised in our pending court case filed before the election, we wish to totally reject the outcome of the exercise.
“And by this notice, we are calling on the electoral body to cancel the so called sham election that are seen by majority of people in the state as charade, laughable and joke that was done to ridicule the good name of people of Sokoto State.
“The election should be cancelled and a new date for a fresh, free and fair election devoid with rancor announced”, the statement said.
