Sokoto Re-Run: Group Petitions Buhari Over Alleged Plot By Police Minister To Rig Elections
A non-partisan, non-profit and non-governmental group under the aegis of Network For Domestic Election Monitors (NDEM), Sokoto State chapter, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently intervene in the forthcoming re-run elections in the state.
In a statement on Friday signed by the group’s representative in Sokoto, Prof Sani Abubakar Yar Sakke Esq, and addressed to the President, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), INEC chairman and other stakeholders, the group decried the alleged abuse of power by the serving Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi “over the conspicuous absence of the Police from polling units during the Presidential and National Assembly elections which resulted in unprecedented political violence and thuggery never seen in the state.
“As a result, over 470 polling units with a total of over 300,000 registered voters were disenfranchised and unable to cast their votes leading to inconclusive election for all the National Assembly elections in the State.
“This is unheard of in this country, and even more so given the fact that your cabinet minister of Police Affairs is clearly responsible for this unwholesome development, in spite of your warning,” NDEM said.
Reminiscing on the last election in Sokoto state, NDEM condemned the arbitrary and violent withdrawal of many opposition leaders from their polling units and later detained at various police posts across the state to pave way for manipulation of election results.
According to the group, “the action was the handiwork of Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, the current Minister of Police affairs and Sen Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko. The group further urged President Buhari to order the duo to order.
Part of the statement reads: “Mr. President we wish to again commend your bold attempt at ensuring free and fair credible elections in Nigeria. We equally acknowledge your emphatic efforts and pronouncements leading to the February 25th and March 18th 2023 general elections.
“The Naira redesign policy of your administration, despite the efforts of some members of the political class to undermine that laudable objective, the policy to a large extent, helped in minimizing the endemic vote buying and money politics in the country generally. Mr. President’s stance against the use or misuse of security agencies for election is highly commendable.
“We recall times without number your pronouncements directing the security services to steer clear of partisan politics and avoid being used by any person or group of persons for political purposes.
“It is indeed sobering to chronicle the elections in Sokoto State where all the fears raised in our previous letter have been rudely confirmed.
“Our grounds for the rejection of appointment of the Minister of Police Affairs Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as the Director General of a Party’s campaign Council in the State have now been sadly and unfortunately justified.
“Minister Dingyadi as the overseeing minister of Police Affairs in the country allegedly used his office to ensure the following: Plot to ensure the conspicuous absence of the Police from polling units during the Presidential and National Assembly elections which resulted in unprecedented political violence and thuggery never seen in the state. As a result, over 470 polling units with a total of over 300,000 registered voters were disenfranchised and unable to cast their votes leading to inconclusive election for all the National Assembly elections in the State.
“This is unheard of in this country, and even more so given the fact that your cabinet minister of Police Affairs is clearly responsible for this unwholesome development, in spite of your warning.
“The assignment and deployment of Police officers to all his Party leaders and Agents, who used them to harass and assault all other political party leadership across the state. Many opposition party leaders were violently withdrawn from their polling units and detained at various police posts across the state to pave the way for manipulation of election results.
“Your Excellency against the background of the re-scheduled supplementary elections in the state on Saturday 15th April, 2023 people in the state are now justifiably worried that the same scenario is about to play out again. In this context, the level of preparations and mobilization by all the political parties in the state has created a very wild and tense atmosphere requiring the immediate and direct intervention of the Commander-in-Chief to save the situation.
“Meanwhile there is a graveyard silence in the state over the outcome of the last governorship election in the State.