The Jigawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the outcome of Saturday’s by-election for the Babura/Garki Federal Constituency.
A statement by the PDP’s State Publicity Secretary Umar Kyari Jitau Madamuwa, said the rejection followed a careful study of preparations and general conduct of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which it claimed consisted “numerous breaches of electoral laws.”
Madamuwa accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of deploying public resources for partisan interests, including vote-buying during the election.
“The Saturday by-election, in which INEC declared the APC candidate the winner, fell far below acceptable standards and cannot be accepted in any ideal democratic society.
“The PDP observed how the APC used state power to engage in widespread vote-buying, voter intimidation, and harassment during the exercise. The election failed to meet acceptable democratic standards.
“The daylight electoral malpractice perpetuated by APC government machinery was nothing but a show of shame for our dear state of Jigawa and the democratic system,” Madamuwa stated.
The PDP called on its supporters and all democracy advocates in the state to remain calm assuring that the party will take all necessary legal measures to reclaim what it called its stolen mandate.
