A governorship aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Plateau State, Hon. Jude Dakur, has rejected the outcome of the party’s governorship primaries which produced retired General John Sura as candidate, alleging widespread irregularities, over-voting, result manipulation and exclusion of his agents from the exercise.
Dakur, who spoke to newsmen in Jos, demanded a rerun of the primaries in seven Local Government Areas and the outright cancellation of results from Jos North Local Government Area.
The aspirant alleged that no election took place in Jos East, Bassa, Pankshin, Kanam, Qua’an Pan and other affected areas, insisting that the exercise failed to comply with democratic standards and the party’s electoral guidelines.
According to him, the results declared from Jos North were marred by massive over-voting and manipulation, alleging that over 27,000 votes were “concocted” in the council area.
“I openly reject the outcome of the exercise because there were widespread electoral malpractices. In some of the areas mentioned, no election took place according to reports from my agents,” he said.
Dakur also raised fresh concerns over the integrity of results from Mangu Local Government Area, alleging that figures had been altered and manipulated following alleged violence against electoral officers.
He maintained that while results were originally recorded in Mangu, the figures were later changed, insisting that 13 out of 16 ward results had been tampered with.
“The figures in Mangu have been changed. I want the results to be clearly stated as originally recorded. There is no chance for alteration,” he said during the interaction.
The aspirant further alleged that the electoral officer in Mangu was beaten during the process, which he said contributed to the alleged alteration of results.
Dakur maintained that the alleged irregularities in Jos North alongside other affected areas rendered the exercise fundamentally flawed.
He further alleged that electoral officers were threatened by the State Organising Secretary of the party during the exercise, while some results were altered after submission.
The aspirant also stressed that some of his agents were excluded from the process while others were assaulted during the primaries.
“My agents were totally excluded. Some were even beaten,” he added.
He maintained that the alleged over-voting, result doctoring and procedural violations rendered the outcome unacceptable to him and his supporters across the state.
Dakur therefore called on the party’s Appeal Committee to critically review all complaints and order fresh primaries in the affected local government areas.
“Those areas should face outright cancellation and reruns should be conducted. Otherwise, the outcome will not be acceptable to me and my supporters across the state,” he said.
He insisted that he won 13 out of 16 wards in Mangu and questioned the alleged alteration of figures, alleging sabotage of the electoral process.
Dakur, however, appealed to his supporters to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while awaiting the outcome of the party’s appeal process.