The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State has clinched victory in all 20 chairmanship seats in the local government elections held on Saturday, a result that has sparked controversy and strong reactions from the opposition. The announcement was made by the Chairman of the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC), Alhaji Ahmed Makama, following the conclusion of the polls.
In response, the All Progressives Congress (APC) rejected the election results, condemning them as a severe violation of the electorate’s rights and a travesty of democracy. Speaking at a press briefing at the APC state secretariat, the party’s legal adviser, Barrister Rabiu Garba, sharply criticized the election process, labeling it as a political scheme orchestrated by the PDP-led administration in Bauchi State.
“As we rightly pointed out yesterday, BASIEC had no intention of conducting a free, fair, and credible election. What we witnessed today in all 20 Local Government Areas was a deceptive drama and a mockery of innocent voters and politicians,” Garba stated. He further alleged widespread irregularities, including inadequate election materials, votes being pre-allocated to the PDP, and the non-conduct of elections in numerous polling units across the state.
The APC has demanded the immediate resignation of Alhaji Ahmed Makama as BASIEC Chairman, accusing him of failing to uphold his Oath of Office. The party is also calling for the cancellation of the August 17th local government elections and has urged the Bauchi State Government to dissolve the current BASIEC management, proposing the reconstitution of a credible team to conduct fresh, transparent elections that align with international best practices.
