JUST-IN: PRP rejects LG election results in Bauchi, says it’s a ‘mockery of democracy’

• The Peoples Democratic Party in Bauchi State won all the 20 chairmanship seats in the Local Government election.
• The local government election was conducted following the recent judgment of the Supreme Court, which affirmed the local government’s autonomy.

The Bauchi State chapter of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has strongly rejected and condemned the local government elections held across the state on Saturday, describing it as an “electoral heist.”

The PRP, in a statement by its Secretary, Hon Abdulazeez Haruna, alleged that the elections were a “prearranged banditry orchestrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)” and its state government, in connivance with the state chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

The party expressed outrage over the “brazen manipulation of the electoral process”, which it said has reduced the democratic system to an authoritarian practice.

The PRP alleged that elective positions were shared among the undemocratic syndicate, denying the people of Bauchi State their right to vote for their choices.

The party criticized IPAC for serving the personal interests of some individuals, rather than promoting ideal democratic practices.

The PRP stated that the State Chairman of IPAC and his deputy were rewarded with councillorship seats for their roles in orchestrating the electoral banditry.

The party described the declaration of the PDP as the winner of all chairmanship seats and councillorship seats as a “grave injustice and a mockery of democracy.”

The PRP warned those involved in the “electoral heist” that history will record them in “bad books, and karma” will visit them in due course.

The party said it will soon decide on the next line of action to take, and called on stakeholders, including civil society organisations and progressive-minded individuals, to join them in condemning the electoral heist.