The African Union, Economic, Social and Cultural Council, (AU ECOSOCC) Nigerian chapter that observed the governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Taraba state Monday condemned the intimidation and alleged beating of APC agents in some local government areas of the state.
The Nigeria representative of AU ECOSOCC, Dr Tunji Asaolu, said in Jalingo said that the just concluded elections were characterised by irregularities, beating of APC agents and intimidation.
He also said there were massive rigging and thump printing in multiple ways for a particular party.
“We observed that in some polling units in areas controlled by the ruling party in the state thugs terrorized, intimidated and brutally beat up of some agents of one of the major opposition party in Vakude and Warwar villages, respectively”.
He alleged that the thugs were sponsored by a high profile political figure in the state.
He informed that the Taraba state Commissioner of Education, Mr Johanese Jigem, and one Mr kyari and others were arrested in Mambilla plateau with thumb-printed ballot papers and fake result sheets that were intended to be substituted with authentic results to favour the ruling party.
According to him, the violent that erupted in Jalingo, the state capital on the eve of the election where two people were killed, was as a result of sharing of the money allegedly doled out by one of the parties to buy votes.
He added that in Ardo Kola LGA, an INEC official as well as an SDP agent were compromised to allow the ruling party to influence the results against the will of the people.
“We say Kudos to the security agents who are on top of the matter. We also observed that crisis erupted at the Jalingo collation center as a result of the over-voting at Sarikin Dawaki polling unit.” (Blueprint)
