The Adamawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has vowed to challenge Saturday’s Ganye state constituency by-election in court, accusing security agencies of aiding the All Progressives Congress in manipulating the process.
PDP chairman Shehu Tahir alleged that Assistant Inspector General Taiwo Adeleke, who oversaw security, shielded APC leaders accused of electoral malpractice.
“The national vice chairman of APC Northeast, Mustapha Salisu, was caught with election materials in his vehicle in the presence of the AIG, and he allowed him to go about freely without arresting him,” Tahir was quoted by Punch.
He further claimed that his late-night call to the AIG confirmed complicity.
“When I called AIG Adeleke in the night and drew his attention to the incident, he said that Salisu did not use the election materials, meaning he was aware of the manipulation deal.”
Tahir also issued a stark warning about Nigeria’s democratic future.
“If the Ganye bye-election is not revised by the court of competent jurisdiction, democracy will come to an end in 2027,” he declared.
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The PDP chairman added, “What I want AIG Adeleke to know is that former IG Balogun, Abacha, Buhari, and others are not alive.
“Whatever they accumulated fraudulently, they will face God on the last day, and the public wealth they cornered will become a problem to their families.”
However, the Adamawa State Police Command admitted that a box labelled with INEC’s name was found in Salisu’s car but denied it belonged to the electoral body.
“Yes, PDP complained that Salisu was in possession of election materials. A box with the INEC name was found in his car, but after investigation, INEC official said that it is not their box,” police spokesman SP Suleiman Nguroje said.
On the other hand, the APC described the election as transparent and well-conducted. Party spokesman Mohammed Abdullahi commended INEC for what he called a credible exercise.
“The by-election was keenly contested. No party was a pushover, but APC came out victorious,” Abdullahi said.
Despite the controversies, APC leaders, including Salisu, were hosted at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s private residence in Ganye during the election.