Taraba LG polls: We are calling for the complete cancelation of the elections in Taraba State – APC Chairman
Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The State Chairman of the All Progressive Congress APC Barrister Tukur El-Sudi has call for the complete cancelation of the local government elections in Taraba state, describe the elections as political appointment rather than elections.
He stated this while briefing Journalists in jalingo.
“APC was fully prepared to participate in the elections taking place today Saturday, 18th 2023 in the 168 wards of the sixteen local governments of the state.
“We are disappointed, we are not happy with what is happening in Taraba state.
“In Wukari, the Result sheets were no where to be found. In Takum, Gashaka, Kurmi and other local governments, same thing is happening.
“In Gashaka local government, materials are talking to PDP stakeholder houses for thump printing.
He said that in Ibi local government, the Electoral Officer is no where to be found, only the securities as I speak to you.
“LG election are been pocketed by the state government. This is also happening in APC states. We call on Nigerians to make reforandom and amendment.
“We thought that Governor Agbu Kefas as a retired military man, would do the right thing, but he was caged by some politicians in the state.
The Chairman pointed out that States Houses of Assembly and Local government elections have been pocketed by the state governments.
“We are calling for the complete cancelation of the elections in Taraba state.
“It is a shamble, all results have already been written.
“Results sheets were no where to be found at the LG levels.
“Materials have not reached most of the polling units in many local governments.
The Chairman alleged that ballot papers are being thumb printed in the homes of PDP stalwarts in several locations across the state, rather than the polling units, thereby disenfranchising members of the opposition parties.
He said that reports from across the local government areas especially where the APC is fully involved shows that there is no election going on as what is happening is just a mere charade.
He insisted that the election has exposed the lack of sincerity of the Governor and electoral umpire in the state and the deliberate effort to undermine democracy.
“It has become imperative for me to address you at this time. Ordinarily, local government elections is supposed to be going on across the state and all of us should be busy with that.
“Unfortunately, electoral materials are taken to homes of political stalwarts for thumb printing. I
“I informed the security who said their responsibility is only to safeguard the election materials. I also informed the Chairman of SIEC who assured me that the right thing would be done and yet nothing is happening.
“The situation even in Jalingo here, there is no election at all in most of the polling units. This is very unfortunate. We know right from the onset that the governor wanted to appoint Caretaker Committees to run the local governments even after the notice for election was given. Now they just appointed caretaker chairmen in the name of election.
“I am therefore, calling for complete cancellation of the election. This is such a sham and disgrace and so we, as a party, can not be associated with it. We gathered since yesterday that all local governments have already written their results. Today’s development have vindicated our earlier intelligence – he said.
“I also want to very specially call on the INEC to be handling Local Government elections henceforth otherwise, this is an abuse of democracy. We need a referendum as the states Assemblies are already compromised and may never consent to any constitutional amendments to this effect” he added.