The Coalition of the Political Parties in Yobe State has denied taking part in the December 28 local government election held in the state, calling it a huge fraud and demanding for a published apology from the government within 72 hours or face legal action.

In a statement signed by its caretaker committee chairman, Adamu Muhammed Babangida, the coalition said what happened during the local government election was a farce and a ploy by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to hoodwink citizens into believing that all is well in the state.

“No such election ever took place in Yobe state and any sensible person can attest to the fact that where there exist a state of emergency declared because of insecurity, no politicking or voting process will take place unless and if the state of emergency lifted,” Babangida said.

He expressed disappointment over the insincerity of the Ibrahim Gaidam – led administration, noting that in reports published in the media which were credited to Yobe state government that 10 political parties participated in the elections were false.

“For avoidance of doubt, none of us either purchased or filled nomination forms nor returned same to any agent of the electoral commission. It is in line with the lies against us and deliberate attempt at tarnishing our good names and image. We hereby disassociate ourselves from these publications,” he stated.

Babangida declared that eight parties including the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, Labour Party, LP, Nigeria Peoples Congress, NPC, Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, Peoples Mandate Party, PMP, Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were not part of the election into 17 local government areas of the state.

The coalition threatened legal battle with the state government if an apology is not published through the same media that published the erroneous reports within 72 hours.

While declaring the results of the council polls, the chairman of the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission, YBSIEC, Mohammed Jauro Abdu, said that candidates of the ruling party in the state, the APC won all the contested chairmanship and councillorship seats.

He, however, stated that the PDP had indicated it would boycott the elections without citing any reason.

“I cannot tell you why PDP opted out of the race, but I am sure they have been with us in all arrangements and we cannot question their decision”.

Yobe, is one of the three states under emergency rule, which the INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega said might not be safe enough for polls in 2015.