Kehinde Fajobi
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) in Kaduna State has rejected the results of the council elections held on Saturday, October 19, as announced by Hajiya Hajara Mohammed, the chairperson of the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM).
In a statement issued by its state chairman, Luka Binniyat, the forum pleaded with Governor Uba Sani to carefully review the election process and take decisive action to strengthen democracy and maintain public trust in the state.
“We plead with the Kaduna State House of Assembly to amend the KAD-SIECOM law to include heavy fines and jail terms for electoral offenses, especially for officials handling electoral matters,” Binniyat stated.
He described the announcement of results by KADSIECOM as a “charade” and an “insult” to the intelligence of the people.
“If not, it is our firm position that what was read by Hajia Hajara Mohammed, KAD-SIECOM Chairman, if not an Artificial Intelligence (AI) manipulation, stands as an annoying charade; an insult to the collective intelligence of our people and a big leap into backwardness in Kaduna State.”
Binniyat urged Governor Sani to recognise the sensitive nature of Kaduna as a state, highlighting its cosmopolitan character and the potential volatility surrounding such matters.
“As the father of the state, he should do the needful and make an urgent intervention,” he said.
The MBF chairman claimed that elections were not held in 12 local government areas in Southern Kaduna, which he referred to as the Middle Belt zone.
“Election materials arrived late and came without results sheets, and the electorates, suspicious of an untoward game, refused to vote,” he said.
He further questioned the validity of the results declared, stating that no such results were collated at the polls in the affected LGAs.
“Since the election did not hold, there was no way that results would have been announced to declare winners at the ward levels (councillors) and at the Local Government Headquarters (chairmen) as mandated in the KAD-SIECOM law, part VI, Section 23 (1) and (2).”
Binniyat also lamented the circulation of documents on social media purported to be KAD-SIECOM results sheets, which he said were fabricated.
“We have viewed documents on social media purported to be KAD-SIECOM results sheets, apportioning votes to candidates of political parties, when clearly no such results were collated at the polls.”
He concluded by urging Governor Sani to act swiftly to maintain his integrity and the trust the people have in him.
“It will be very unfortunate and a huge minus to the integrity and trust that Governor Uba Sani has built among us if he allows the announcement of Hajia Hajara Mohammed to stand as the real results of yesterday’s supposed local government election.”
He criticised the practice of governors dominating local elections, stating, “We understand that it has become a very sick and sad fad for governors to emasculate all positions of chairmen and councilors during local government elections to APC 100%.”
Binniyat warned that such actions could have serious future consequences.
“No one knows the implications of such injustice on even the perpetrators in the future, even as it is a huge injury to democracy and a mockery of civilization.”