APC, PDP trade words over election manipulations

BARELY two days to the general elections, the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC ), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State are now trading accusations to each other over the usage of command centres to manipulate election results and thumbprinting of ballot papers.

Tribune Online recalls that the PDP through its state chairman Francis Orugo, two days ago claimed the existence of the centre since Governor Tanko Umaru Al- makura took control of Government House in 2011, after defeated Late Aliyu Akwe Doma of the PDP to emerged Governor, alleged using the centre to perform fraudulent acts by hacking into INEC website and manipulate figures.

The PDP Chairman said his friends in Government House confirmed to him the names of the people recruited by Gov Tanko Al-makura to short change election results before they are finally announced.

“As you all know the issue of the command centre is no longer news in the state. It has gone beyond rumour. As a former assembly member and a former labour leader in the state, I have friends in the government house.

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“We have written to the security agents and the INEC on the nefarious activities taking place at this command centre, and we are reminding them again that they should investigate properly so that this election will produce the true candidate,’’ he said.

Orogu maintained that if the rigging plot is not checked, it would not be business as usual, saying if violence breaks out, Al-makura should be held responsible.

In response to the accusation, the Nasarawa State government issued a statement on Thursday condemning all allegations raised by PDP chairman, describing his allegations as ridiculous, baseless and show of ignorance.

The state commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Jameel Zakari, who read out the statement to Journalists in Lafia, urging the” security operatives to investigate the matter as the state government would not hesitate to prosecute the PDP chairman.

” The Nasarawa State government view these allegations as, not only unfolded, ridiculous, but also baseless; as the APC administration in the state does not interfere with constitutional responsibilities of the INEC.”

Adding that the general public is aware of the command centre at government house which was created to during the first tenure of the administration if His Excellency, Umaru Tanko Al- makura for “a special purpose vehicle using the social media platform to disseminate information and the projection of government policies and programs to the world in line with global best practices.”

” It is pertinent to state that the Command Centre, which was in place before, during and after the 2015 general elections, has nothing, whatsoever to do with election matters as also attested by the state PDP chairman during the Questions and Answers session of his conference, ” the statement stated.

Calling on eligible voters to remain calm and go about their civil responsibilities without any doubt or fear on Saturday, as the government is ready to provide adequate security to ensure a hitch-free exercise.