The Kaduna State House of Assembly on Wednesday denied allegations that it was planning to manipulate the results of local government elections scheduled for October 19.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed in a press conference that a meeting was held between Chairman Dahir Liman and some government officials planning to manipulate the poll results.
However, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Henry Mara said at a press conference in Kaduna that he had nothing to do with it, adding that the Speaker went on an official visit.
“Our Speaker has a constituency, just like all of us here, and we go to the office to ask for things for our constituents, but even sitting here in the Capitol, we have a constituency. , sometimes nothing moves.
“As such, we typically move employees from one location to another to ensure they get the most benefit from their tenure.
“Because by the time we leave this place without giving them any tangible benefit, we too will be accused of underperforming.
“So we have ministries that we oversee as well, and we also have places that we usually go to for oversight.
“So if you see us with some of them, it doesn’t mean we’re jeopardizing our position, it’s part of the job,” he said. Said.
As for allegations that the House is planning to amend the State Independent Electoral Commissions Act (SIECOM), Mara refuted that there was nothing related to that in the October 9 order.
He said that due to the amendments made in July, electronic voting machines were changed to manual voting due to the sudden announcement of elections and the addition of voting units.
He added that the law also gives KADSIECOM the freedom to compile and announce election results at the headquarters of the Central Committee or any other location designated by the committee if it feels threatened or unsafe in the area. He added that it was given to him.
Mr Mara, who is also a PDP lawmaker representing Java constituency, said his party would meet with the party to discuss the issue, adding that the press conference would not have been held had they sought consent.
He said Governor Uba Sani was interested in the mutual and peaceful coexistence of the people of the state and therefore would not do anything that would jeopardize peace in the state.
Mara called on the people, especially politicians involved in the upcoming LG election, to ignore such suspicions and carry out their campaign, stressing that the election will be free and fair.
“We will protect the interests of our people and ensure that the people of Kaduna State get the best,” he said.
NAN gathered that the PDP had raised allegations to the effect that some state officials were planning to hijack the appointment of Returning and Collation Officers for both District and LG in the run-up to the elections.
The state PDP chairman, Edward Marsha, had alleged that some senior officials in the state were likely involved in manipulating the results of the exercise.
