Dakingari The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in yesterday’s rerun election in Kebbi State, Alhaji Usman Dakingari, had the entire field to himself after the 11th hour withdrawal of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Argungu.
Alhaji Argungun accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias in its preparation for the poll.
He alleged that the commission failed to carry him or his party along even when the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, visited the state ahead of the election.
He said:"From the onset, there was no fairness. When INEC scheduled a meeting of stakeholders in Kebbi in preparation for today’s (Saturday’s) rerun election, invitation was neither extended to my party or myself who is its governorship candidate.
"There are processes that lead to an election. Election itself is only an event and if the processes are faulty, the event is bound to be faulty. INEC has made a date with the PDP and the ANPP and I cannot be party to this anomaly."
But the Secretary to Kebbi State Government, Alhaji Nura Usman Kangiwa, would have none of that. He said Argungu’s lamentation was a mere ranting of someone who perceived that he was going to lose at the polls.
"It is a normal thing for anyone who perceives losing an election to insinuate that there are irregularities in the process. If he truly saw some unfairness by any one, why did he not raise the alarm," Kangiwa asked.
The election itself recorded a low turnout of voters.
Alhaji Argungun accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias in its preparation for the poll.
He alleged that the commission failed to carry him or his party along even when the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, visited the state ahead of the election.
He said:"From the onset, there was no fairness. When INEC scheduled a meeting of stakeholders in Kebbi in preparation for today’s (Saturday’s) rerun election, invitation was neither extended to my party or myself who is its governorship candidate.
"There are processes that lead to an election. Election itself is only an event and if the processes are faulty, the event is bound to be faulty. INEC has made a date with the PDP and the ANPP and I cannot be party to this anomaly."
But the Secretary to Kebbi State Government, Alhaji Nura Usman Kangiwa, would have none of that. He said Argungu’s lamentation was a mere ranting of someone who perceived that he was going to lose at the polls.
"It is a normal thing for anyone who perceives losing an election to insinuate that there are irregularities in the process. If he truly saw some unfairness by any one, why did he not raise the alarm," Kangiwa asked.
The election itself recorded a low turnout of voters.
The Supreme Court ordered the rerun after upholding the appeal of the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the April 2011 election Alhaji Abubakar Garu Mallam who defected to the PDP a few days to yesterday’s rerun.
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