- An ex Kano commissioner, Alhaji Yusuf Bello Dambatta, says INEC promotes thuggery in the name of democracy
- Dambatta said voters in Kano were chased away from polling units during the state’s supplementary election and denied their right to vote
- INEC, however, rejected the allegation that it was promoting violence; and appealed for understanding
A former commissioner of lands in Kano state, Alhaji Yusuf Bello Dambatta, has described the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as an institution that promotes thuggery in the name of democracy.
Danbatta, who served in the cabinet of former governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, made the statement at the INEC collation center on Sunday, March 24, in response to the outcome of the Kano supplementary elections, Daily Trust reports.
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Legit.ng gathers that the former commissioner alleged that there was no election in Gama and some other places slated for the reruns.
He said: “It is unfortunate that INEC in Kano is promoting thuggery in the state, instead of democracy.
“Voters were chased away from the polling units and denied rights to vote.”
In reaction, however, the allegation was denied by the state’s resident electoral commissioner, Riskuwa Arabu Shehu, who said the electoral commission was not established to promote violence.
He said going by its guidelines, INEC had provisions in its Act that spelt out how the commission would manage violence.
He said: “So, it is not true that INEC is promoting violence. The commission is ready to accept correction. I am appealing to us to let us be as democratic as possible in expressing our views.
“I am appealing with us to try to understand each other and make our comments with clear sincerity so that we can progress.”
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejected the declaration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state as the governor-elect by the Independent National EIectoral Commission.
The party said its candidate, Abba K. Yusuf, was the rightful winner of the keenly contested election, saying any declaration that does not reflect such cannot stand.
In a statement sent to journalists by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, on Sunday, March 24, the party described the supplementary election in the state as a mere figure-allocating exercise by compromised INEC officials.
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Source: Legit.ng
