Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, has said that he is ready to accept the outcome of the governorship election in the state.
The governor said this fielding questions from reporters shortly after casting his vote at Bakin Dutse Pulling Unit 008, Yelwan-Duguri in Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi State.
Mohammed is running for a second term on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He faces stiff opposition from a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar (rtd) of the APC and Senator Halliru Dauda Jika of the NNPP.
“Well, as I came here, you know my village is about 120 kilometres from the Bauchi metropolis and I see people come out. The turnout is high here.
“I’m happy that everything appears to be very peaceful and I feel this is the kind of situation we need all over the country. People exercise their franchise without hindrance, acrimony and conflict.
“We are very grateful to God. INEC has done very well as far as I’m concerned. We are ready to accept the outcome of the election,” he said.
He said the level of perfection of BVAS in the election is worth commending as voters used the device with a lot of ease now than in previous elections.
However, the governor expressed concern over a suspicious military helicopter hovering around Alkaleri, warning of a planned militarisation of the electoral process in the state.
“Left to me, I don’t want any Air Force personnel to participate in the election because a former Chief of Air Staff is competing with me. Certainly, it is not fair for the Nigerian Air Force to be hovering around knowing fully that they are already on one side, the side of the APC gubernatorial candidate who has not hidden his penchant for militarising or terrorising people,” he added.
The governor was accompanied by his wife, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed and their children.
Meanwhile, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sadiq Abubakar has expressed concern over the governorship election in Bauchi local government.
Although he didn’t specify the nature of the act of omission or commission, he maintained that his team is closely observing the situation.
He however commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the smooth conduct of the election in the state.
“I think the turnout is still okay. Everybody is patient,” he said.
The former Chief of Air Staff voted along with his wife/ minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk in Zirami Kofar Fada polling unit 001 in Giade local government area of Bauchi State.
On his part, Bauchi gubernatorial candidate of the NNPP, Senator Halliru Dauda Jika said he is confident of defeating both the incumbent governor Bala Mohammed of PDP and Sadiq Abubakar of the APC.
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