Probe over-voting allegations in Bauchi, APC urges INEC

The All Progressives Congress has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission to investigate alleged over-voting and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System compromise in Saturday’s Bauchi State governorship election.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, made the call in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

“With indisputable cases of over-voting, massive electoral fraud, thuggery, harassment, intimidation and widespread despicable violence that marred the Bauchi State Governorship election of March 18.

“The APC calls on INEC to expeditiously investigate reports that its BVAS was compromised in many voting units in the state,” Morka said.

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He said that Alkaleri, Kirfi, Toro, Warji, Ningi and Zaki Local Government Areas of the state recorded widespread violence, over-voting and massive rigging against the APC governorship candidate, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retired).

Morka added that it was surprising that inexplicable massive figures were invented in polling units where voting didn’t take place and results were never collated.

The APC scribe said that extensive cancellations of polling units results in APC candidate’s strongholds were made.

This, he said, was without valid justification, except to depress his vote count and give undue advantage to the PDP candidate, the incumbent Gov. Bala Mohammed.

“In one of the many brazen cases recorded by polling unit agents, a reportedly serving PDP commissioner in the state was captured buying votes in the open.

“And in full glare of cameras, citizens, and assisted by security officials that bore a constitutional duty to arrest and take the criminal into custody for further investigation and prosecution.

“The APC rejects the invented election figures and INEC’s declaration of the governor-elect in Bauchi State.

“We call on INEC to cancel the election in the afore-mentioned LGAs that were characterised by over-voting, destruction of electoral materials, harassment, intimidation and widespread violence,” Morka said.

NAN