Taraba guber: Our mandate was stolen — we were coasting to victory, says NNPP chair

Rufai Alkali, national chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), says his party was coasting to victory in the Taraba governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said Kefas Agbu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), polled 257,926 votes to defeat Muhammad Yahaya, the NNPP flag bearer, who secured 202,277 votes.

Emmanuel Bwacha, the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, had 142,502 votes to secure third place.

Addressing reporters in Abuja on Saturday, Alkali said PDP did not win elections in Taraba.

“Just like Kano state, Taraba state has been facing serious difficulties. It is very glaring that what happened on March 18, 2023, gubernatorial and the house of assembly elections in Taraba state was a disgrace to this great country,” Alkali said.

“The victory of our party in Taraba state in the March 18, 2023 election was brazenly stolen in broad daylight, using some compromised security agents. When it was apparent that NNPP was coasting home to victory, some forces of darkness went into action, and not minding the costs, they embarked on a mission to just destroy the whole process.

“At the end of the day, they tried to achieve their evil plan at a very huge cost in terms of lives and properties they wasted in the process.

“We in the NNPP therefore totally reject that PDP won the gubernatorial elections in Taraba state.

“This issue has already been taken up and details are available to INEC, and we urge the electoral umpire to urgently correct this injustice done to NNPP and our governorship candidate to bring lasting peace and stability in Taraba state.”

The chairman expressed dismay that 24 years after the return of democracy, some politicians have an “unholy attitude toward getting power”.