Kaduna Assembly Responds to Allegations of Election Manipulation
By Aisha Gambo
Kaduna, Oct. 10, 2024 (THEGAVEL) — The Kaduna State Assembly has dismissed allegations of plans to manipulate the upcoming Local Government elections scheduled for October 19.
During a news conference, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused Speaker Dahiru Liman and several senior government officials of meeting to devise a strategy for influencing the election results.
In response, Mr. Henry Marah, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, clarified that there was no basis for these claims, explaining that the Speaker was on an official visit.
“Our Speaker, like all of us, represents a constituency and often needs to visit various offices to advocate for our constituents. If we remained at the assembly complex all the time, little progress would be made,” Marah stated. He emphasized the importance of engaging with different ministries and conducting oversight duties to ensure tangible benefits for the community.
Regarding allegations of proposed amendments to the State Independent Electoral Commission Law (SIECOM), Marah confirmed that there were no such items on the agenda for October 9. He noted that a previous amendment in July shifted from electronic to manual voting due to time constraints and allowed for the creation of additional polling units. The law also enables KADSIECOM to announce results from designated locations if there are security concerns.
Marah, a PDP member representing Jaba Constituency, mentioned that his group would consult with the party about these issues and expressed that the press briefing could have been avoided with prior communication. He asserted that Governor Uba Sani is committed to maintaining peaceful coexistence in the state and would not take actions that could undermine stability.
He urged the public, particularly those involved in the upcoming elections, to ignore the allegations and continue their campaigns, assuring that the elections would be conducted fairly and transparently.
“We are dedicated to protecting the interests of our people and ensuring that the residents of Kaduna State receive the best possible service,” he concluded.
The PDP had previously raised concerns about potential interference by state officials in appointing Ward and LG Returning/Collation Officers for the elections. Party Chairman Mr. Edward Masha alleged that senior state officials might attempt to manipulate the electoral process.
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