APC governorship primaries: Aspirants want Abia, Yobe primaries cancelled

Alleges Manipulation

 

Aspirants who contested the recently concluded governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia and Yobe State have rejected the outcome of the primaries, insisting that the primaries be cancelled and a fresh date set for a fresh conduct.

One of the aspirants in the contest on Abia state, Prince Paul Ikonne accused the electoral committee sent by the party and the leadership of the party in Abia state of seeking financial inducement to favour the highest bidder.

In Yobe State, one of the aspirants, Mallam Umar Ali said he was contesting the outcome of the primary in the state which threw up the APC National, Secretary, Mai Mala Buni as the party flag bearer because of his believe that the entire process was manipulated.

In a petition to the National Chairman, Prince Ikonne said the committee sent to conduct the primary in Abia state connived with the leadership of the party in the state to jettison the party register sent by the national headquarter and used a register that was manipulated and doctored by unknown persons.

He alleged that electoral guidelines set by the party were not complied with in the conduct of the primary, adding what was done in Abia undermine the party tenet and principle of credible election.

He said that the enthusiasm that greeted the primary, the contrary was the case and demanded that the process be cancelled and a fresh primary ordered while the register sent by the national secretariat be used for such conduct.

He said that the action by the Chairman of the electoral committee and the State Party Chairman ls unbecoming, disgraceful and disheartening that at the at this stage of our democracy, and also with a view of our party manifesto, and incessant fight against corruption such anomalies can be happening.

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On his part, Mallam Umar Ali said he has overwhelming evidences pointing to manipulation of the process in Yobe State, adding that they have collated video evidences showing irregularities, contrary to the election guidelines. The Umar Ali Campaign Organisation said in a statement that “The ballot papers used for the election is different from what is approved by the national headquarters. Candidates’ pictures, as seen in ballots used in places like Borno, Katsina, among others, were missing on the ballots used in Yobe.

“Also, instead of thump printing, they adopted writing names of candidates on the ballots. This gave the opportunity for some biased persons to write the name of the anointed aspirant on all ballot papers that got into their hands, in the name of helping delegates”.

He complained of lack of accreditation of delegates, as stipulated in the election guidelines, making it contentious to ascertain who was a delegate or not.

Mallam Ali said he has written to the national headquarters of the party and the election appeal panel to protest the alleged misconducts.