- The assembly clarified the speaker’s meeting amid election controversy.
- There were reports that PDP alleged state officials planned to hijack the appointment of Ward and LG Returning/Collation Officers.
The Kaduna State Assembly has denied allegations of manipulating the Local Government elections scheduled for October 19.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had accused the assembly of planning to rig the polls, citing a meeting between Speaker Dahiru Liman and top government officials.
However, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Henry Marah, clarified that the Speaker’s meeting was an official visit, not a plot to manipulate the elections.
Marah explained, “Our speaker has a constituency, we visit offices to benefit our constituents; if we don’t, we’ll be accused of non-performance.”
He added that their oversight duties involve visiting ministries and collaborating with officials, emphasizing that such interactions are part of their job.
Regarding the alleged plan to amend the State Independent Electoral Commission Law (SIECOM), Marah stated that there was no such proposal on the October 9 order paper.
He noted that the July amendment replaced electronic voting with manual voting due to time constraints and the creation of additional polling units.
The law also allows KADSIECOM to announce election results from a secure location if needed.
Marah assured that his bloc would address the concerns with the party.
He said that governor Uba Sani prioritizes peaceful coexistence and would not compromise the elections’ integrity.
Marah urged the public to disregard allegations and focus on their campaigns, ensuring the elections will be free and fair.
“We will protect our people’s interests, ensuring Kaduna State gets the best,” Marah said.