FCT election: APGA kicks, alleges manipulation of results

By Donald Iorchir
Abuja

All Progressives Grand Alliance in the Federal Capital Territory has decried the outcome of the Saturday’s election across the six area councils, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent Electoral Commission of manipulating results in three councils.
In an interview with the FCT APGA’s party chairman, Okoli Philip Chukwuebuka, said the party won with a clear margin in Gwagwalada council, and was announced by the returning officer, Adamu Tanimu, but later declared inconclusive.
Chukwuebuka said “my name was removed in Airport polling unit 010 at Lugbe AMAC market, the same thing affected many people.”
“The election was also manipulated in Kuje, declaring major areas that are APGA’s strong hold inconclusive; this is not the change we expect from the FCT minister,” he said.

In Gwagwalada area council, the returning officer, Adamu Tanimu, said the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Adamu Mustapha, polled the total votes of 15, 272, to defeat his closest runner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abubakar Jibrin, who is also the incumbent chairman of the council.
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abdullahi Umar Yunusa, scored 6,082 votes, while the candidate of DPC polled 95 votes.
But after the announcement in the presence of security agents, the returning officer later said due to cancellation recorded in Pada extension and Joe Pada polling units of Ibwa council ward, the election was inconclusive.

Reacting to the development, the APGA party chairman in Gwagwalada, Engr. Solomon Umezuruike, described the situation as worrisome, calling on the INEC not to be misguided by the APC tactics in connivance with the police, to manipulate the election.
He appealed to the FCT commissioner of police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, to order his men and officers of Gwagwalada area command to release some youths which were arrested and detained in Lugbe police station.
When contacted, the FCT INEC Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Ndidi Okoro, said the Commission would come up with a position after its meeting.