The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State and some of its supporters have staged a praceful demonstration, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding that henceforth collation should be done in the INEC office instead of the Council Secretariat in Wase.
The Wase LGA Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Sale Hamman, who led the procession, from Wase town to the INEC Area office, under security escort lamented the situation which he described as dangerous to democracy.
“Following years of manipulations and subversions of Wase People’s Electoral Decisions as a result of relocation of INEC Collation Centre to Wase Local Government Secretariat in Wase, we had complained to the Commission in writing and it agreed to do Collation at its office right from now.
“But to our surprise, the Commission insisted on collating election results at Wase LGA Secretariat during the 25th February Presidential and National Assembly elections and what we feared came to past,” he said.
According to him, the Wase LGA Chairman and the Deputy Speaker, Ahmad Idris Wase, of the APC, sneaked with their political thugs and unleashed acts of terror on electoral officials and agents of other political parties and coerced the INEC Returning Officer to declared, Hon. Ahmed Wase as winner of the said election.
“We therefore, write to bring to the notice of the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, the plights of the good people of Wase,” he said.
He also accused the Electoral Officer In-charge of Wase and the State Resident Electoral Commissioner of complicity, for allowing the collation at the LGC Secretariat.
“We therefore kick against continued retention of Wase LGA Secretariat as INEC Collation Center and at the same time demand immediate relocation of same to the INEC Office in the Area,” he said.
Adamu Saluwe, a supporter urged the umpire to be fair and just in the execution of its duties.
The INEC Assistant Electoral Officer, Administration, Samson Laguna, commended the peaceful manner of the demonstration, assured them that the matter will be referred to the appropriate quarters for consideration.
“We are tired of electoral rubbery,’ we want free and fair election,” LGA Secretariat is regging venue for Hon Ahmad Idris Wase and his Cohorts,” Wase LGA Secretariat is an APC Office,”. buharibukarbello@gmail.com