As INEC collates election results, APC, PDP trade tackles over malpractice in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano,Yola.

As the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC collated the results of the governorship and state Assembly elections across the country, the All Progressives Congress,APC and Peoples Democratic Party,PDP in Adamawa state are at each other’s throat over alleged electoral malpractices.
A press statement signed and issued by Martins Yanatham Dickson of the Binani campaign Organisation media team alleged that the incumbent Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the PDP had his loyalists thumb printing and stuffing ballot papers in boxes in a desperate move to rig the governorship election.
Dickson expressed disappointment stressing that the organisation was worried that a private residence situated behind Muna Hotel at Dougirei quarters in the state capital was the venue of the electoral offence, calling on the relevant authorities to investigate the allegations.
“The campaign organisation has condemned in strong terms the unacceptable rigging machine of desperate politicians, clandestinely struggling to force themselves on Adamawa people.
“We are calling on INEC to swiftly respond along with relevant security agencies and stop this ugly and desperate move to tamper with the integrity of the Adamawa governorship election.
“The votes of Adamawa electorate must be allowed to count in a free, fair, credible and acceptable contest.The people of Adamawa state should be allowed to decide who leads and governs them”, the statement said.
In a swift reaction by the Director General, Media and Communications to Governor Fintiri , Mr.Solomon Kumangar, the PDP and the government debunked the allegations by the APC governorship candidate distancing themselves from any wrongdoing.
Kumangar in a press release issued in Yola yesterday said the claim by the opposition APC was nothing more than desperation in display insisting that the said private house is the PDP presidential and governorship elections situation room where electoral processes are being monitored.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the property in question houses the situation room of the PDP presidential and Governorship campaigns council for monitoring, documentation and field location and coordination.
“Furthermore, the DSS, Police and several security personnel had stormed the situation room in gestapo style and turned the place upside down on the excuse that it was being used for clandestine purposes.
“While the the security are yet to make their findings public, the government strongly condemns this act of desperation and intimidation.It is further proof of the fact that having sensed defeat the APC is clutching at every straw to prevent it from drowning”?the statement added.
Another allegation that created tension during the electoral exercise, was a video of a close Associate to Governor Fintiri that went viral on the social media claiming he was buying votes under the protection of two police officers in Hong local government area.
When contacted on the development, spokesman of the Adamawa state police command, SP Suleiman Nguroje said the matter was being investigated promising to brief the public as soon as investigators are done with their job.