NASS ELECTION: CPC ALLEGES RIGGING IN BORNO

The Conference for Progressive Change (CPC), Borno State chapter, has alleged that last Saturday's National Assembly elections in the state were marred by what it called technical rigging, noting that there was no substantial compliance with the 2010 Electoral Act.

State chairman of the party, Zanna Shettima, told journalists at a briefing on Tuesday that the poll in the state was fraught with anomalies.

'There was a lot of anomalies, ranging from outright electoral fraud, falsification of figures to electoral inconsistencies,' he declared, adding that the party leadership had written to the appropriate authorities to look into the complaints.

Zanna said though the party was not condemning the election in its entirety, he maintained that the provision of the electoral law was breached.

He particularly alleged that an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official with a politician conveyed electoral materials, including ballot boxes and papers in private vehicles, contrary to the electoral law, which provided that the materials should be transported with vehicles approved by INEC.

He also indicted the newly posted Borno State Commissioner of Police, Mike, for alleged complicity in the breach of the electoral law.

He claimed that when the suspect, who carried electoral materials in his private vehicles was arrested and handed over to the police, he alleged that the police commissioner merely detained him for a few minutes and later allowed him to go without properly investigating the matter.

He also claimed elections did not hold in some places in Maiduguri metropolis like Kotla 1 and 2 polling centres, Bulama Mara and Bunu Tella 1 and 2 due to late arrival of electoral materials but regretted that results were announced in favour of some candidate. He said such announcement undermined the credibility of the poll.

He, however, said the party would not canvass for outright cancellation of the election.

Zanna underscored the ideological disposition of the CPC as a party that believed in justice, fairness and change, maintaining that such change should come from the people. He also said the party would continue to await the outcome of its complaints and appealed to the supporters to remain calm and also turn out for the forthcoming presidential poll on Saturday.

He debunked what he called false insinuation and rumour that the CPC gubernatorial candidate had withdrawn from the race, adding that the purported withdrawal was 'unfounded and complete falsehood.'