Gombe LG poll not free, fair, PDP alleges

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State has rejected the just concluded local government council election for lack of transparency.
The public relations officer of the party, Abdulkadir Ahmed, stated this at a news conference on Tuesday in Gombe.
Mr Ahmed questioned the credibility of the election in which the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won all the elective positions.
He dismissed the exercise as “immoral and a gross abuse of democratic principles and the Nigerian constitution.”
“The local government election was a mockery of the people’s democratic rights. The exercise lacked transparency and failed to meet democratic standards,” he said.
Mr Ahmed recalled that the PDP boycotted the exercise because the process was neither free nor fair.
He accused the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC) of failing to provide a level playing ground for opposition parties and their candidates.
The PDP spokesman alleged that ballot boxes were not provided at polling units during the exercise.
He urged the state government and electoral commission to uphold democratic principles, protect the rights of the citizens, and conduct elections in a transparent, credible and inclusive manner.
Meanwhile, the PDP condemned the expulsion of Gombawa Motors from the Dankwambo Mega Motor Park, describing the action as politically motivated.
Mr Ahmed alleged that the transport company was expelled from operating at the park for exercising its civic rights by identifying with the PDP governorship candidate, Isa Pantami.
He stated, “Members of the transport outfit, as citizens and taxpayers in Gombe State, should not be subjected to political intimidation or denied access to a public facility because of their perceived political affiliation.”
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Heading 1
18th Headies Awards nominees: Fola, Omah lay, Wizkid, Davido, Asake, top list
Davido and Asake received six nominations each.

States
Centre seeks financial transparency in maritime sector
Mr Nweke said, “Financial transparency is not merely an accounting issue; it is an economic competitiveness issue.”

Africa
Interpol nabs 58 in crackdown on Black Axe, other organised crime groups in West Africa
In South Africa, it raided seven locations in Johannesburg linked to a syndicate that ran romance and investment scams targeting retirees in English-speaking countries.

Education
Distance learning now national necessity not alternative: Osinbajo
The former vice president commended UNILAG’s DLI for its pioneering role in distance learning.

Economy
U.S. hails Dangote Refinery as Nigeria’s petroleum exports surge seven times
The EIA stated that increased production from the refinery transformed Nigeria’s petroleum products market by reducing dependence on imports and boosting domestic supply.

States
10 mental health patients treated in herbal healing homes ready for discharge, says Edo govt
Ms Abdallah said government-approved herbal healing homes provided rehabilitation and related support to persons with mental-health conditions and other vulnerable persons.






