Bauchi By-election: PDP, APC Trade Accusations
PDP alleges use of federal might to harass, intimidate its members
APC denies allegations, says; “you are crying foul where there is none”
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI ,- The Ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi state has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using federal might to harass and intimidate its members in its desperation to twist the outcome of Saturday’s Dass state Constituency bye-election.
It also alleged that a list of prominent people in the Local Government Area, who are members of the PDP, was drawn and handed over to security agents for arrest and incarceration under trumped up allegations till the end of the exercise.
One of the PDP leaders in Dass, Adamu Haruna told Journalists at the Dass Police Division that the opposition APC, knowing that it will not win the bye-election resorted to using its members at the national level to truncate the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
He specifically cited the arrest of Adon Dalla Gin and Mrs Yashi by security operatives under the guise of vote buying as one of the grand plans to frustrate the PDP.
Corroborating the ugly development, Council Chairman of Dass LGA, Mohammed Suleiman said; “since yesterday (Friday) our members have been subjected to series of harassment and intimidation by security operatives who stormed the area from Abuja”.
According to Suleiman; “as you can see, we are here to secure the release of one of our party leaders who was arrested for the allegation of vote buying while voting at the Social Welfare polling unit in Bundot ward of the LGA”.
Defending his claims, the Council Chairman further stated that; “Abdon Gin cast his vote, spoke to Journalists and left the voting area. He was in his car about leaving when the security operatives, including EFCC personnel, accosted him. They searched him thoroughly and did not find anything incriminating on him but found some amount of money in the booth of his car. The money was meant for settlement of PDP agents and other field officials in the ward where he belonged”.
He however expressed confidence that no amount of intimidation and harassment will stop the PDP from winning the election because according to him, the party was ready for the exercise having campaigned across the LGA.
Suleiman, who commended INEC for early distribution of election materials, said that in areas where there were issues, the political stakeholders came together and amicably resolved the problem.
However, in a swift reaction to the allegations, State Chairman of APC, Uba Ahmed Nana said; “who is intimidating and harassing who? PDP is in power in Bauchi. It has everything in its power to do anything it wants. Our members have encountered several incidents of harassment and intimidation in the last one year, yet we have kept mute”.
“What federal might do we have? We only have large followers and supporters across the state. All we want is a free and fair conduct of the election which we are confident of winning”.
The APC Chairman also applauded INEC for what he described as excellent logistical arrangement which made conduct of the election smooth and peaceful
