As Nigerians go to the polls this Saturday to elect the president and members of the National Assembly, Bauchi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the State Government led by the APC has held series of meetings with traditional rulers in the state where it threatened to dethrone any of them that fails to influence his subjects to vote for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) candidates in the elections.
The allegation was raised by the Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Yayanuwa Zainabari while addressing newsmen on Thursday in Bauchi, alleging that the state government has issued an order to District Heads in some parts of the state to deliver their respective districts to the ruling party in the election adding that the matter triggered conflicts on Wednesday in Burra, Ningi local Government Area between a District Head and the people of the area.
The Publicity Secretary further said that the PDP was concerned about how the government allegedly humiliates the royal fathers and undermines their authorities describing the situation as unfortunate and pathetic.
“Even today, some District Heads were summoned from my local government to the Government House where they were intimidated. Governor M. A should know that his tenure is limited. But traditional rulers will reign forever because the stool is hereditary and permanent”, he further alleged.
Yayanuwa Zainabari also alleged that the government promised some of the traditional rulers it dethroned earlier when it came on board that if they deliver their various places to the APC, they will be reinstated.
He warned that, “The traditional rulers should know that we are also their sons and our governorship candidate Bala Mohammed have regard for them. He is worried about how they are being maltreated and will restore their lost glory if elected “.
The PDP publicity Secretary also alleged that there was plot by the State government to rig the election in favour of the ruling party vowing that the PDP was ready to checkmate plans for all electoral malpractices because according to him, “we are ready to defend our votes at all cost within the purview of the laws”.
He concluded that the PDP has already notified the security agencies and taken note of all the areas that the ruling APC is trying to manipulate the election results warning that the party will not fold its arms and watch things go bad and set the state on fire.