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Fintiri, Boya disagree over alleged electoral violence in Adamawa

By   Leo Sobechi, Deputy Politics Editor, Abuja
01 April 2023   |   1:38 am
Following controversies that trailed the inconclusive Adamawa State governorship election, a House of Representatives member-elect for Fufore/Song Federal Constituency, Mallam Aliyu Wakil Boya, has denied claims by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri....

Ahmadu-Umaru-Fintiri

Following controversies that trailed the inconclusive Adamawa State governorship election, a House of Representatives member-elect for Fufore/Song Federal Constituency, Mallam Aliyu Wakil Boya, has denied claims by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri that he sponsored political thugs loyal to All Progressives Congress (APC) to hijack result sheet in Fufore Local Council during the election.
   
Boya spoke to journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, that as a lawyer and former local council boss, there was no way he could have descended so low to sponsor or undertake such a criminal act.
   
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared the governorship poll inconclusive after the process was disrupted in various polling areas, especially Fufore. The Commission has fixed April 15 for the repeat polls.
  
However, reacting to allegation levelled against him by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri during a Channels Television programme, Boya said the governor could not substantiate his claims that the criminal acts were undertaken by persons associated with APC.
  
Insisting that there was no proof of his or APC’s involvement, Boya, declared: “The allegation is completely unfounded. I am constrained to react to that allegation just to clear my name.
   
“When you allow falsehood to be repeated for so long, it begins to look like the truth. On that note, I want to say that the statement made by Governor Fintiri on Channels TV, last Sunday evening, that I participated in the electoral illegalities that took place in Fufore during the governorship and state assembly elections on March18, is not true. 
  
“I share the view that the event in Fufore on electionday was totally uncalled for, and regrettable. And, by this position, I, hereby, disassociate myself completely from the illegalities that took place that day. 
   
“I am a trained lawyer, a title holder, a former local council chairman and an elected lawmaker. I cannot get myself involved in any act of criminality, especially subverting the popular will of the people.
   
“I am a product of democracy and respect democratic processes. I have no such record in my political career. This alone vindicates me.” Boya said those who mentioned his name in connection with the criminal disruption of election at Fufore were misguided and mischievous, stressing that “they are out to score cheap political points and attract undue political sympathy.
    
“Trying to link my name and person to the events in Fufore is absolute falsehood and blatant duplicity by whoever gave such information to the governor.
  
“I want to state that whoever linked my name to the event and even went ahead to wrongly inform Governor Fintiri is simply a purveyor of fake news and true enemy of the people.
   
“On a my own, I pledge to dig deep to unravel who the peddlers of this caricature are. It is my sincere hope that this reaction would re-inform the governor of the true happening in Fufore.”
  
It would be recalled that by the time the election was declared inconclusive, Governor Fintiri had overtaken the lead posted by candidate of APC, Senator Aisha Dahiru (Binani).
  
Pained by the imputation in some quarters that there were schemes to deny Binani of the victory, Governor Fintri continued to accuse APC chieftains in Fufore, including Boya, of sponsoring political thugs to snatch the summary result sheets in the council.

In more than two television appearances after the poll was cut short, visibly outraged Fintiri, who is also the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate in the election, accused Boya of sponsoring the thugs, who snatched election results sheets in Fufore. 
  
But, Boya has continued to maintain his innocence, affirming: “This is the handiwork of mischief-makers. They want to tarnish my reputation before my constituents. This is purely to score cheap political goal. To say the least, I am taken aback that a mischief-maker would inform the governor that I was involved in the electoral illegality. This is not only a mistake, but a mischief taken too far.
    
“Beside, I come from a very respected family background and my upbringing was based on the virile values of honesty and mutual respect for norms. I want to state categorically, with every sense of honesty as a devout Muslim that, I was totally not involved in the Fufore debacle and felt embarrassed that my name could be associated with such dastard illegality.”

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