By Ibrahim Obansa (Lokoja), Charles Akpeji (Jalingo) and Ahmadu Baba Idris (Birnin Kebbi)
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Kogi Central Senatorial District in last weekend’s National Assembly election, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has rejected the outcome, alleging manipulation of the process, doctoring of figures, cancellation of polling units, where she won and invasion of many polling units by thugs.
She claimed that voting in Okene Council was highly manipulated in connivance with electoral officials, while thugs chased away voters and snatched ballot boxes that were eventually thumb-printed in a private residence.
A statement by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Campaign Organisation alleged: “The Returning Officer of Ajaokuta Council was harassed and coerced by officials of Kogi State government and All Progressives Congress (APC) to cancel 12 polling units in Ajaokuta Council, where Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan won with a wide margin and declared results of the 12 polling units inconclusive.
“In Okehi council, APC thugs invaded the three wards of Oboroke Uvete, Oboroke Eba Ward I & II and burnt 20 polling units where Natasha won with high margin.
“Despite APC’s rigging scheme, Natasha won Ajaokuta with 1,355 votes lead. To ensure the APC candidate is announced at all cost, the 1,355 votes lead in Ajaokuta was forcefully reduced to 878.”
“Despite the 12 polling units that were forcefully cancelled and declared inconclusive in Ajaokuta Council and the 20 polling units where election did not hold in Oboroke, Okehi Council, the Returning Officer for Kogi Central senatorial election was coerced to announce APC candidate as winner with 365 votes lead.
“Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan rejects the result and calls on INEC to review the outcome and declare her as the rightful winner of the 2023 Kogi Central senatorial election.”
SIMILARLY, Kebbi State chapter of the APC is to challenge outcome of the central district election in court.
The ruling party’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Alhaji Issa Salafu, who gave the indication during a chat with journalists yesterday in Birnin Kebbi, claimed that a lot of irregularities had been discovered in areas like Aliero, especially over-voting. He added that the party was waiting for Maiyama, Koko-Besse Federal Constituency and Kebbi North Senatorial District results at the conclusion of a by-election.
MEANWHILE, People’s Redemption Party (PRP) has called for cancellation of Taraba South senatorial polls over alleged omission of its logo from the ballot paper. The leadership, in a protest, yesterday, maintained that the exclusion did not only lead to disenfranchisement of its teeming supporters, but also affected performance of the party in the election.
Displaying the ballot paper before reporters at a briefing, which took place in Jalingo, PRP’s senatorial candidate for the district, lliyasu Ibrahim Gadu, alleged that most of the faithful were denied voting due to the lapse.
He stated: “I could not think of any reason why INEC would exclude my party from participating in the election because all outstanding issues regarding my candidacy had been conclusively resolved.”
Reiterating the party’s determination to seek justice, Gadu called on the electoral umpire to immediately cancel the February 25 federal legislative election and conduct a fresh poll to feature his party with its full logo.
Source: The Guardian