PDP Guber candidate alleges plot to rig Taraba election, unveils running mate
By Godwin Agia, Jalingo
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under the Nyison Wike faction in Taraba State, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, has raised alarm over alleged plans to rig the 2027 election in the state.
Peoples Daily reports that the candidate warned politicians and electoral officials against any attempt to manipulate results.
Bwacha disclosed this on Saturday in Jalingo during the official unveiling of his running mate, Engr. Aminu Zakari.
He said his campaign team has gathered intelligence on some prominent Nigerians allegedly being mobilized to rig the election in Taraba.
Bwacha issued a strong warning to political actors and INEC officials, stressed that Taraba is not used to writing results.
“We have been following some of this intelligence we have gathered. We will not disclose them until we get closer to the election, including some of these prominent Nigerian men that they want to rig election in Taraba State.
“In Taraba we are not used to writing results. So that is why I want to send that strong warning to those whose people have left them and the glory of God has left them, and for electoral officials who would want to do so. They will do it at their peril. They will meet with the wrath of the people,” he stated.
Bwacha lamented over the state of development in Taraba, alleging that resources have been diverted with no visible projects to show for it.
He noted that the state is currently indebted to about N800 billion outside of federal allocation, and accused the present administration of using state funds to appease political elites.
“People are angry in the state as if we are not part of Nigeria. Our resources have been diverted. We don’t see where they are being used here. Just show me a physical project in Taraba State of N10bn from this present administration and I will step down from this race.
“This is the same money they throw around to many elite who are relying on government. When they throw crumbs to them they will be singing praises and they are deceiving people that they will rig elections,” he challenged.
Bwacha further noted that President Bola Tinubu does not need to campaign in Taraba because he is already widely accepted in the state.
“President Bola Tinubu will not even allow his name to be smeared because he is already an accepted president in Taraba. I am not sure Tinubu needs any campaign since the pretenders are already there and those of us who are on ground, so he doesn’t need to campaign here in Taraba,”.
Speaking on his recent invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Bwacha said it was politically motivated to dampen the morale of his supporters.
He said he was vindicated as nothing was found against him.
“My few weeks invitation by the EFCC was politically undertaken to dampen the morale of my supporters. But thank God I was vindicated because there was no evil found in the whole matter. Otherwise, this is the matter that was investigated in 2019 and this is seven years running now. So how would you separate this from politics? This is purely political and I am on top of it,” he declared.
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