By Muhammad Mamman
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State has announced plans to challenge last Saturday’s Ganye state constituency bye-election in court, accusing police of enabling electoral fraud to favor the All Progressive Congress (APC). In a fiery exclusive interview with CNN, PDP Chairman Shehu Tahir alleged that Assistant Inspector General Taiwo Adeleke, who led security operations, turned a blind eye to manipulation by APC operatives.
Tahir claimed that APC Northeast Vice Chairman Mustapha Salisu was caught with election materials in his vehicle in the presence of Adeleke, yet faced no consequences. “I called AIG Adeleke at night to report this, and he admitted Salisu had the materials but claimed they weren’t used. This shows complicity,” Tahir charged. He warned that failure to overturn the election results in court could spell doom for Nigeria’s democracy by 2027, questioning, “If an AIG oversees a state bye-election, will we need 109 Inspector Generals for National Assembly polls?”
Adamawa Police Command spokesman SP Suleiman Nguroje confirmed a box bearing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) logo was found in Salisu’s vehicle but said INEC officials denied ownership after investigation. Meanwhile, APC state spokesman Mohammed Abdullahi hailed INEC for conducting a “free and fair” election, declaring the APC’s victory a testament to a “keenly contested” race.
Adding intrigue, sources confirmed Salisu and other APC leaders stayed at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s private residence in Ganye during the election, raising eyebrows given Atiku’s PDP affiliation. As legal battles loom, the controversy threatens to deepen Nigeria’s political divides, with the PDP vowing to fight for what it calls a stolen mandate.
