THE presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, says there is a plot to undermine democracy and incite violence in Adamawa state.

Abubakar said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was perpetrating a scheme to upturn the democratic wish of the people in the state.

READ ALSO:

Atiku Abubakar salutes Mary Katambi, other Chibok girls for pursuing education after abduction

False claim circulates that Atiku is retiring from politics, congratulates Tinubu

Presidential poll: INEC asks tribunal to dismiss Atiku’s petition

Atiku to Nigerians: Don’t allow promoters of religious, tribal divisions succeed

Abubakar said this in a press release issued on Sunday, April 16.

According to him, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State declaring the APC candidate, Sen. Aisha Binani, as the election winner was proof of the “shambolic nature of the 2023 elections in general.”

Yunisa Ari, the Adamawa REC official, had declared the APC Binani winner of the state governorship election.

Ari announced Binani as the winner of the poll midway into the collation,  when only results from 10 out of 20 of the local government areas where the supplementary polls were held had been announced, and Fintiri, the PDP candidate, was in the lead.

Constitutionally,, the state returning officer, Mele Lamido, is the INEC official empowered to declare the winner.

Reacting to this, Abubakar described the situation in Adamawa as a novel practice in Nigeria’s election.

“It is not in doubt that INEC has approached the Adamawa State election with a preset agenda of declaring the APC winner at all costs.

“It is, therefore, on this note that we wish to call the world’s attention to the scheme being perpetrated by INEC to compromise the electoral wishes of the people of Adamawa State.

“We also wish to inform the world that such behaviour by INEC has a natural consequence of unsettling the peace and security of the society.

“We have seen how INEC conducted the February 25 and March 18 elections against the run of play and challenging cheated candidates to go to the court, knowing full well the agenda they are up to,” he said.

Abubakar called for the arrest of the REC and other parties complicit in declaring Binani the winner.

He asked that the arrest and prosecution follow procedures for treason.

He said this would deter those “who may want to torpedo our democracy and provoke violence in our country.”