Following the claim of Taraba All Progressives Congress, APC Governorship candidate, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha to have had series of conversations with the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu over his validation as the rightful APC Governorship candidate, a civil society group as call for his arrest and probe.
Bwacha made this claim on a National television, Channel TV Sunrise daily program on Tuesday, claiming he had series of conversation with the INEC boss before he prevailed over the commission to have his name on its Portal as the rightful candidate of his party.
In a statement duly signed by the coordinator of Taraba Democrats Forum, Mallam Aliyu Adamu noted that Senator Bwacha claims of having undue relationship with INEC Chairman might have serious implications on the credibility of INEC as the umpire in charge of the coming March 18th Governorship elections in the State.
“Does all Governorship Candidates in Taraba calls INEC Chairman, is it appropriate that a candidate will be communicating with INEC Chairman on electoral issues or it is Senator Bwacha’s intention to intimidate other candidates, INEC officials and people of Taraba state by boasting publicly of his close relationship with the INEC Chairman,”he added.
According to Aliyu, claiming to have spoken with INEC Chairman about his Taraba gubernatorial race while election is just few days away is a deliberate attempt to gain undue favoritism and sympathy.
Aliyu stated that Bwacha’s personal relationship as revealed by him on Channels TV can compromise the integrity of the governorship election in Taraba State.
He therefore called on Security agencies to immediately arrest and probe the said conversation visa vis Bwacha’s statement that Tarabans would be shocked on Saturday.
“Bwacha has always brag of his connections with the INEC Chairman and have boasted on how he influenced some posting of INEC officials in Taraba State.
“Tarabans should be allowed to elect their governor and lawmakers without any undue influence and advantage to a candidate.
“It is not new for Bwacha to explore emotional sympathy and blackmail to clinch political position. For over a decade, he as used the Christian Associations in Taraba State to retain his political seat at the red chamber, tagging the muslims boko haram and anti-peaceful coexistent in Taraba State,” he added.
Aliyu described Senator Bwacha as a desperate politician who is possibly taking undue advantage of his close relationship with the President-elect’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu as the Chairman and Vice chairman of Christian Senators respectively to harass the INEC Chairman and its officers towards achieving his gubernatorial aspiration through back door.
Recalling that Senator Bwacha accused the Christians Association of Nigeria, CAN and Muslims bodies of attempting to divide Taraba State along religious lines, Aliyu said that, such statements is not met to be heard from someone who was endorsed by Taraba Christian Association at every instance of contesting for both House of Representatives and Senate.
“No one divides the State along religious and even ethnicity lines more than Senator Bwacha, because he is fond of ripen where there is crisis and rancor. Openly in 2013, he called Muslims in Taraba Muslims potential Boko Haram sects.
“Lot of his actions obviously fuel ethnicity differences and violence all to favour his political interest. Every peace-loving Traditional rulers in Taraba State are even against Senator Bwacha.
“Many non-indigenes knows they will have to leave Taraba in peace, forget about their investments and run for their lives if Bwacha emerges Governor. Surprisingly, he is the one going about paying lips services to tolerance and coexistence.
“We are calling on all stakeholders in Taraba State and Security agencies in Taraba State and Nigerians to be watchful and remain at alert to reverse any shock Senator Bwacha is planning against Taraba State on Saturday.”
