INEC, PDP Falsifying Election Documents In Taraba, APC Alleges

From Jonathan Katunga, Jalingo
The Taraba chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised an alarm over the way and manner election documents were being falsified allegedly by INEC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Hassan Ardo, chairman of the party in the state who raised the alarm at a media briefing in Jalingo on Wednesday, wondered why those involved in what he described as “a desperate move to manoeuvre their presentation before the election petitions tribunal in Jalingo” were out to achieve.
The state chairman disclosed that the party was in possession of a falsified document, INEC Form EC 40G, which is an election material meant to be used for reporting of “cancellations or where elections were not held during the last National Assembly elections in Taraba State”.
He said some INEC officials were still romancing with the bad elements whose stock in trade was cutting corners and attempting to have their way at all cost to occupy positions that they did not win.
According to Ardo, one Aminu Zakari who served as a collation officer for the senatorial election held at Kaigama ward of Bali Local Government of the state on March 28, 2015 had confessed in a letter of complaint addressed to INEC and Taraba State Police Command that two INEC officials and an agent of the PDP came to his house at about 8pm on March 28, 2015 and forced him to sign a document indicating that election were cancelled in Kaigama ward.
“My Electoral Officers Adamu Sawaba and Ahmadu Kaka came along with some people and asked me to sign the document to indicate that the election in Kaigama ward was cancelled while in reality the said election was conducted peacefully and results collated successfully” he stated.
Zakari lamented that he had to write the letter of complaint to both the INEC and police because he was forced to sign the document against his wish, disclosing that the election actually took place in the said ward.
He said in the letter that he was ready to testify before the election petition tribunal and show evidence that the senatorial poll took place in Kaigama, the ward under question.
Meanwhile the Police Public Relations Office in the Taraba Command Mr. Joseph Kwaji (DSP) said he was yet to be informed of the said letter, adding that the Police would act promptly upon the receipt or the document.
The Dream Daily reports that the Elections Petitions Tribunal in Jalingo is hearing a petition filed by Yusuf A. Yusuf, the Senatorial candidate of the APC in the Taraba Central Senatorial Zone challenging the Election of Alhaji Bashir Marafa of the PDP in the 2015 National Assembly polls.