A former minister of health and governorship aspirant in Bauchi State, Muhammad Ali Pate, has rejected the recently conducted gubernatorial primaries in the state.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Mr. Pate expressed disappointment, calling for proper investigation and observance of due process.
According to the aspirant, the primaries were marred on the following grounds:
1. Harrassment and intimidation of delegates; 2. Inconclusive Election; and Violation of Section 19(k) of the guideline which provides for modified secret ballot system.
We observed that delegates were coerced into voting the alleged predetermined winner. The initial organization of the election clearly indicated an effort to identify which delegates voted or did not vote for the predetermined candidate, and was reinforced by creating fear of repercussion if the delegates did not chose the candidate.
We are curious that the results of five local government areas were summarily rejected and excluded in the computation of the votes, even while there were significant unresolved issues regarding the casting of those votes.
Section 19 (k) of the party guidelines for primary elections provides for a Modified Secret Ballot otherwise known as the Open Secret Ballot. Unfortunately, delegates were deliberately crowded and clustered as to make the secret ballot completely impossible. It is hard to believe that five local government delegates numbering about 2000 or more persons could be asked to
assemble at the same time to cast their ballots without the possibility of a delegate protruding into what the other is doing.
Opportunity was provided for others to tout, induce and even collect ballot papers of others to write on their behalf.
Appointed Local Government caretaker chairmen (example Alkaleri L.G.A. Caretaker Chairman) and other elected representatives (example Dambam House of Assembly member) were openly seen to collect and fill the ballot papers of several delegates with the name of the predetermined winner of the primary election.
Other corroborative indications that the pre-determined candidate received hundreds of millions of Naira to induce delegates. It is unfortunate that even the opposition APC in Bauchi State was successfully infiltrated in an anti-democratic manner.
Bauchi State is facing great challenges, including dwindling economic performance, rising poverty, poor education, high unemployment, rising insecurity indicative of failed politics in the
State. PDP as a party was supposed to offer a level playing field for emergence of credible candidates in order to successfully compete and offer good governance for the development of the State after winning election. We hope that our complaints will resonate with national leadership of the party and that Justice will be done for members of the party in Bauchi and the people of the State.
