‘It was hijacked’ — Ribadu demands cancellation of Adamawa APC guber primary

Nuhu Ribadu, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa state, has demanded for cancellation of the election which held in the state on Friday.

Ribadu, the pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), made the call during a press conference in Yola, the state capital, on Saturday.

The APC governorship aspirant had pulled out of the governorship race, arguing that the exercise would not be free and fair.

He however backtracked when the election was rescheduled to Friday.

But speaking to newsmen on Saturday, Ribadu cited various irregularities in the direct primary that held in the state on Friday.

He said party members in all the 226 wards in the state who had come out to vote could not do so.

“We were opposed to indirect primaries ab initio because we believe the process that brought those expected to participate in the process was undemocratic. They were largely handpicked by those who hijacked the party congresses in Adamawa,” he said.

“It was therefore with scepticism that I and my campaign organisation accepted to have party officials at the ward levels to superintend the direct primaries at their respective wards, under the supervision of the panel sent from Abuja. Indeed, at a meeting between the committee and aspirants, I made a strong case for neutral people to conduct the elections.

“To our shock and amazement, our worst fears were confirmed, as the electoral process was completely hijacked across the state.

“Thousands of our supporters trooped to all the 226 wards early enough on Friday to exercise their rights. They waited for hours under the sun till the sunset without sighting any official.

“Personally, I visited some of the wards within the metropolis where we met anxious people that were angry at the absence of persons that would coordinate the elections. It is similar report we got from our agents from across the state.

“The election materials distributed at the local government headquarters were hijacked by government officials and party leaders, who went on to fill out funny figures and return them to the returning officers as results from the wards.

Ribadu called on the national working committee (NWC) of the party to get involved and declare all results null and void.

“The National Working Committee should, as a matter of urgency, step in and save our party from this embarrassing situation, one that is capable of eroding public confidence on the party and its leadership,” he said.

“We demand immediate cancellation of the so-called results being announced currently as they are figures cooked up by shameless persons who have no credibility and popularity to withstand free and fair contest. We reiterate that no election has taken place anywhere in Adamawa State and it is therefore impossible to declare any result.

“The party executives at the wards and local government levels should be immediately disbanded as they have demonstrated their bias and showcased that they cannot be fair and just to all party members.”