Taraba governorship rerun: Replace implicated INEC, security officials – Atiku

Former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission security officials implicated in the conduct of last weekend’s governorship election in Taraba State should be removed and replaced with new personnel in the rerun election in the state.

The former vice president made the suggestion while welcoming INEC’s decision to cancel the gubernatorial election results in some local government areas of Taraba State and declare the outcome of last Saturday’s polls in the state inconclusive.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Turaki Adamawa expressed agreement with the widespread reports of irregularities in some local governments of the state.

“These irregularities included using armed personnel to intimidate voters,” Abubakar said.

The former vice president added that armed soldiers were attached to Senator Emmanuel Bwacha; Joel Ikenya, a current minister; as well as Senator Anthony Manzo, the Chief of Staff to Senator David Mark.

He said the soldiers engaged in brazen acts that violated the electoral act, including ballot box snatching.

“Elections should not be militarised,” Abubakar said. “Nigeria is a democracy, not a dictatorship. Citizens should be able to go out and vote without fear of being threatened with the nuzzle of a gun.”

He said that these election violations were noticeably perpetrated in Southern Taraba, specifically in Wukari, Takum, Kurmi and Donga local councils.

And also in the North, particularly in Lau and Yoro where Manzo comes from.

Abubakar noted that thousands of troops were deployed to these areas and electoral officers were heavily compromised.

“These people should not be allowed to go back during the rerun election,” Abubakar said, adding: “No troops should be allowed nearby.”

Abubakar also called on the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to replace security personnel in Taraba State with new teams from neighbouring Gombe, Bauchi and Adamawa States during the period of the rerun election.

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