Taraba APC accuses PDP, INEC of plotting to destabilise March 18 polls

Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state of plotting to destabilise the governorship and House of Assembly elections slated for March 18, 2023.

Raising the alarm, yesterday, through the former ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Hassan Ardo, the party said PDP had perfected plans to frustrate the exercise by using the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a swift reaction, a PDP chieftain denied knowledge of the alleged plan.

An INEC official, who craved anonymity, also denied knowledge of the development. Citing the presidential election, he said the commission would also work round the clock to provide a level playing ground for all the candidates and their political parties.

According to Ardo, who is also Taraba Coordinator of Independent Grassroots Presidential Campaign Council (IGPCC) of APC campaign, extensive interaction with the grassroots and other relevant stakeholders shows that the PDP is already jittery due to the outcome of the presidential election and the general acceptance of APC in the state.

Stressing that PDP “has resolved to use other means to win the election at all costs,” the electorate, he added, are sufficiently sensitised to resist any such attempt.

In a chat with newsmen in Jalingo, Ardo said: “We have reliably gathered that the PDP has perfected plans to rig the March 18 general election in Taraba.

“We are aware that they intend using some INEC officials and security agencies to achieve their aim. We want to warn that the electorate have been well informed and are ready to tackle them.”

Another tactic put in place to frustrate the exercise, he said, “is to make sure that certain sensitive materials do not come to the polling units at all or they will bring fake result sheets and create confusion.”

His words: “They are working with some INEC officials to replace some of the persons that were initially trained with their own cronies. They are also working with some security personnel, especially the Mobile Police, to intimidate people and create tension.”