10 ex-guber candidates caution INEC against results manipulation in Adamawa

• Court sacks APC Reps-elect, ministry, NOA partner on anti-vote buying campaign
Ten former gubernatorial hopefuls who endorsed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, have cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against manipulating elections results in Adamawa State.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Yola, Spokesman of the group, Nazeeri Sa’ad Maiyaki, said their concern was hinged on the anomalies recorded during the February 23, Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Maiyaki, who was governorship candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) said, “We wish to tell Nigerians and INEC that certain anomalies that took place during the last presidential election that resulted in the disenfranchisement of voters, will not be accepted this time.”

He stated that his group and Adamawa people would resist the use of military personnel and other security agencies to intimidate or harass voters to favour All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.

Besides, a Federal High Court in Yola yesterday sacked APC House of Representatives-elect, Abdulrauh Modibbo Gerei and ordered INEC to issue certificate of return to PDP’s candidate, Jaafaru Suleiman Ribadu, who came second at the poll.

Delivering judgement, Justice Abdullaziz Anka, said evidence before the court confirmed that APC did not conduct any primary election, pointing out that its action was a rape of the country’s constitution.

Representative of Gerei/Yola-South and Yola-North Federal Constituency, Garba Lawan, was denied the opportunity of participating in the primary, as APC awarded automatic ticket to Gerei.

Meanwhile, to check increasing menace of votes’ buying in the country, the Ministry of Communications and National Orientation Agency (NOA) have entered into a partnership to sensitise members of the public on its dangers.

Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu, who stated this in Abuja yesterday, while declaring open National Dialogue on the Challenges of Vote Buying and Selling, said the ministry would collaborate with NOA to ensure appropriate policies and infrastructure to mitigate the negative effects on Nigeria’s electoral process.

At the event, which was organised by NOA, Shittu, while explaining the effects of vote buying, described it an electoral offence, which could undermine the legitimacy of elections and weaken representative democracy.

Speaking, Coordinator, Centre for Leadership and Development (CLD), Otive Igbuzor, blamed increasing vote buying and selling on poverty, unemployment and illiteracy.