It’s Electoral Banditry, PRP Reacts to Bauchi LGs Election

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Bauchi State chapter, has rejected the results of the recently conducted local government elections in the state, describing the exercise as a prearranged electoral banditry.

PRP accused the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in collaboration with the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to orchestrate the charade.

In a statement signed by the secretary of the Party Hon Abdulazeez Haruna, the PRP expressed outrage over what it termed the “brazen manipulation” of the electoral process.

According to the party, the elections, which were held on Saturday, were marred by widespread irregularities, with elective positions allegedly shared among a “syndicate” rather than being decided by the voters.

Hon Haruna who accused the PDP and its allies of undermining democratic principles asserted that the elections were conducted in an undemocratic manner, which has turned the state’s political landscape into an “authoritarian practice.”

The party also criticized the leadership of IPAC, accusing it of betraying the democratic process by facilitating the alleged rigging.

The PRP alleged that the State Chairman of IPAC, who also serves as the state chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), along with his deputy from the Young Progressive Party (YPP) and an associate from the African Action Congress (AAC), were rewarded with councillorship seats for their roles in what the PRP described as “electoral banditry.”

The PRP further claimed that the PDP was declared the winner of all chairmanship positions across the state, along with the majority of councillorship seats, leaving the electorate disenfranchised.

“This is a grave injustice and a mockery of democracy,” the statement read.

“The people of Bauchi State have been robbed of their rights and dignity, and this incident will be recorded as a dark stain on our state’s democracy,” he noted.

The PRP warned all those involved in what it described as an “electoral heist” that they would face consequences, both from history and from the electorate.

The party indicated that it would soon announce its next line of action and called on civil society organizations and other stakeholders to join in condemning the alleged electoral misconduct.

The leading opposition in the state, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and other political parties have rejected the results and called for annulment of the election.