Bauchi, 17th August 2024 – Tensions flared on Saturday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) of attempting to rig the local government elections in favor of the ruling party, PDP.
In an urgent press conference held in the early hours of the day, APC’s leadership voiced concerns about the transparency of the electoral process.
The APC’s Legal Adviser, Rabiu Garba, speaking on behalf of the party, stated, “As at the moment of less than 12 hours before the commencement of the Saturday poll, we have observed that BASIEC has failed to provide adequate sensitive and non-sensitive election materials, including sufficient ballot papers and result sheets, at the designated voting centres across the state.”
Garba also revealed that the APC had reliable information suggesting that BASIEC intended to announce election results while voting was still ongoing, which the party described as a blatant disregard for the democratic process. He further highlighted that the APC had not been informed of the identities of election officials, raising doubts about the fairness of the poll.
Garba also criticized BASIEC for sidelining the APC in discussions with key stakeholders, which he said could compromise the credibility of the election. He emphasized that the APC would not accept any election outcome that was tainted by irregularities, calling for a free and fair process.
On the other side, the PDP dismissed the APC’s accusations. Abdullahi Mato, a prominent PDP figure, responded by calling the allegations “baseless and unfounded.” He asserted that the PDP’s strong record of developmental projects in the state spoke for itself, making them confident of victory in the elections.
Similarly, another PDP official, Abubakar Musa, argued that if the PDP had any intention to rig the election, there would have been no need for the governor to direct stakeholders to campaign and garner voter support. He suggested that the APC’s complaints were merely attempts to gain sympathy due to their lack of campaigning efforts.
