The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ASIEC) of manipulation in the last local government election held in the state, claiming that its candidate won the election and not the candidate of APC.
The party, however, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of APC to call the Adamawa SIEC to order and immidiately sworn in the rightful winner.
A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the SDP national publicity secretary, Alfa Muhammad, said Saturday 6th August 2016 chairmanship poll of Lamurde local government was won by his party.
“Our party fortunately won the election with our candidate, Mr Simon Tompeyo polling 11, 138 votes ahead of the APC candidate who polled 10,740 votes. The Returning Officer, Mr Anuhu Emmanuel Abba duly announced results and returned our candidate elected, with result sheet signed, stamped and issued, with all the proceedings capture in a video at our possession.
“However, in a sudden twist, the Electoral Commission in league with the state government conspired to arms-twist the electorate and rob our party and candidate of his hard won victory with the Commission refusing to issue certificate of return to our candidate and proceeded to swear-in the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate who came second in the election. Similarly, the election in Numan local Government was declared inconclusive because the two wards at stake are the major support base of the SDP in the local government.
“The action of the Adamawa State Government and Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission is too pedestrian, brutish, draconian and amounts not only to a rape on our democracy, but corruption of the highest order. It is even the more, most ridiculous that it is happening at a time that the Federal Government is pushing a crusade of change and fight against corruption, which understandably involves respect and adherence to the rule of law.
“The question begging for an answer, is whether the Electoral Commission is seised of any power to reverse a declaration lawfully made by the Returning Officer. Is it not the ideal thing for any party aggrieved with the declaration to approach the appropriate Election Petition Tribunal to seek redress? To foist a loser of an election on the citizenry is most wicked and runs counter to the cherished principles of democracy. Reports have it that the people of the local Government emmass have since barricaded the road leading to the council secretariat in demand for the candidate which the elected, despite the continuous appeal from the SDP leaders from the local government and the state.
“It is pertinent to say that ADSIEC ought to be and is an independent Commission funded by the public revenue and has a bounden duty to discharge its functions without bias, affection or ill will. Therefore, it is undemocratic and against reason and good conscience for the Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission to discharge her function without partiality.
“The rule of law entails equal treatment for all citizens. SDP deserves their victory and nothing less can be acceptable. Our victory is as a result of hard work and to a great degree demonstrates the popularity and superiority of SDP over other political parties in Lamurde Local Government Area if not in the entire Adamawa state. This must be respected.
“This senseless act of the Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission and the Adamawa State Government is breeding political tension in Lamurde Local Government Area. It will be most unfortunate if lives are lost on account thereof as the situation is likely to degenerate.
“This is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Leadership of the APC to intervene to save the growing sanctity of our electoral process as instituted by the PDP administration of the former president Good luck Jonathan and which brought in the present APC from desecration. It is despicable that the government could be so desperate in the manner exhibited by the Adamawa State Government to commit illegality and damn the consequences. It didn’t matter to the government and the Electoral Commission that the consequences could be catastrophic.
“While it is our earnest hope that Mr. President and the APC leadership will act swiftly in calling the Adamawa state Government to order and redress the ugly situation, we call on you the Media, the Human Rights and pro- democracy organizations as the conscience of the Nation and leading stakeholders in our current democracy to join us in fighting the grave injustice being visited on our party, SDP and the candidate.
Finally, we intend to proceed to the election petition tribunal to seek redress and any legal support from any pro-democracy quarter shall be highly welcomed.”
