A group, Zamfara Good Governance and Accountability Forum, has debunked spurious allegations leveled against the State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hajiya Asmau Maikudi recently by another group, the Zamfara State League of Independent Voters.
The latter group in a letter entitled: Unholy alliance of the resident electoral commission with Zamfara State government officials had accused the Zamfara State REC of collaborating with Zamfara State government officials to sabotage the forthcoming elections.
But in a press statement which was signed by Malam Isa Jika Gusau, and dated 20th February, the forum cleared air on the alleged letter, saying that authors of the infamous letter are out to malign the REC and by extension drag INEC to disrepute.
The statement partly reads: “We write to debunk the spurious allegations levelled against the Resident INEC Commissioner in Zamfara State, Hajiya Asmau Maikudi, to the effect that she was collaborating with Zamfara State government officials to sabotage the forthcoming elections.
“Our organization which is aimed at ensuring good governance and transparency in Zamfara State, had fact-checked the claims raised by the group. Our findings revealed that the so-called meeting in Talata Mafara between the Zamfara REC and state officials and APC chieftains only took place in the fairy imagination of the authors of the letter.
The statement reads further, “Our findings have shown that on the day and time the group said the REC met with APC officials in Talata Mafara, the REC was actually at Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with security agencies inspecting sensitive materials for the elections.
“In fact, the REC was at the CBN office till late. Since the REC is not a ghost, certainly she can’t be at two places at the same time,”
While urging the people of the State to disregard the letter and remain calm, the group advised the INEC Chairman to crosscheck its findings by obtaining and reviewing the CCTV footages at the CBN.
“We are requesting your good office to launch an investigation into the matter with a view to unravelling the truth. From our investigations, the Zamfara REC is lady with a moral and excellent reputation and pedigree,” the statement added.
