Kaduna government dismisses ‘baseless’ claim of plotting to sabotage by-elections
Story by Jessica Mbamah
The Kaduna State Government on Thursday dismissed allegations by a coalition of the African Democratic Congress and Social Democratic Party that it planned to sabotage Saturday’s bye-elections, calling the claims “laughable lies.”
The coalition, led by ADC National Vice Chairman—Northwest, Jafaru Sani, had on Thursday accused Governor Uba Sani’s administration of perfecting a plot to rig the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency and state constituency elections in Zaria and Sabon-Gari.
The group alleged that the plan involved mass recruitment of thugs, bribery of electoral officials, and wholesale vote buying.
Addressing a press conference earlier, Sani claimed that senior officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were being courted with plots of land, while a former senator was allegedly put in charge of mobilising funds to buy votes.
READ ALSO: Kaduna to begin monkeypox vaccination in high-risk areas
The coalition urged INEC to immediately replace the allegedly compromised personnel and called on security agencies to resist “being weaponised to subvert the will of the people.”
But in a swift response, Kaduna State Government, through the Commissioner for Information-designate, Ahmed Maiyaki, dismissed the claims as “baseless, mischievous, and a desperate bid to pre-empt defeat.”
Flanked by the Commissioner for Local Government, Sadiq Mamman-Lagos, Maiyaki told journalists that the coalition’s “poorly attended rallies” in recent weeks had already shown “clear rejection” by voters.
“This is nothing but a face-saving measure by people who already know the outcome of Saturday’s election.
“We will not sit idly by while political opportunists smear the name of our administration and malign innocent officials with wild, unsubstantiated claims,” Maiyaki said.
READ ALSO:INEC fixes date for national, state assembly bye elections
He insisted that election conduct was the sole responsibility of INEC, accusing the coalition of trying to drag the government into “its own political misery.”
Maiyaki also said that while the coalition was “crying wolf,” the governor was in Chikun Local Government Area flagging off the construction of the Romi–Karatudu Township Roads.
According to Maiyaki, the administration’s inclusive governance style had brought peace and unity to the state.
“Governor Uba Sani has united Kaduna people and delivered tangible development. These political jobbers are unsettled by his popularity, so they manufacture theatre to distract the public,” he said, urging voters to “turn out en masse” on election day and ignore the coalition’s “rantings.”
On his part, Mamman-Lagos dismissed separate allegations of illegal deductions from local governments’ accounts.
The bye-elections in Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency and the two state constituencies in Zaria and Sabon-Gari are expected to be a major test of strength for the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition.
READ ALSO: Coalition: INEC refuses to register proposed political party, ADA
While the ADC/SDP coalition insists that the polls risk being compromised without urgent intervention, the state government says such fears are unfounded and are merely “a rehearsal for conceding defeat.”
As both camps trade accusations, attention now shifts to INEC and the security agencies to ensure a peaceful and credible exercise in Kaduna on Saturday.
READ ALSO: Gov. Nwifuru orders arrest of 6 commissioners, LG chair for alleged sabotage
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp:
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
