Adamawa Stakeholders, Others Condemn Governor Bala Over Election Shift By Tom Garba,Yola
The view of the Governor of Adamawa state Barr Bala James Nggilari suggesting to the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to suspend the February 14 general election in Adamawa state is receiving a lots of condemnation and rejection from the state politicians and party stakeholders.
Ngillari who made his view at a workshop in Abuja on the internally Displaced Persons, IDPS had called on INEC to suspend all elections in his state until April for what he termed security reasons.
But, reacting to the Governors call, Major stakeholders of the party in the state described the suggestion as unfortunate, reckless, unwarranted and unexpected of a sitting Governor.
On refuting to the opinion of the sitting governor, a stalwart of the All progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Umar Duhu noted with dismay that despite the fact that most troubled states of Borno and Yobe who are the worst hit by the insurgents have agreed to hold elections, the reverse is the case with Bala Ngillari indicating that the governor must be up to something dicey.
He said contrary to the governor’s claim, the people of Adamawa state are more than to be part of the election resulting to the massive collection of Permanent Voter Card (PVC) saying that more than 90 percent of the people of Michika and Madagali have so far collected their PVC’s, signifying testifying their readiness to partake in the election.
One of the founding member of the People’s Democratic Party in the state Dr Umar Ardo said if the call of the governor is heeded, it will lead to constitutional breach in the state adding that there is no basis for such calls as it portends danger to the polity.
“If there is no election in the state, we are going to have problems. It means the government of the day will have to continue beyond the terms they were elected. It will result in a constitutional mess,” he said.
Ardo noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that enabling environment will be created for the Internally Displaced Person’s to cast their votes adding that with the situation there is no need for the call.
Moreover, he faulted the governor over his choice of April for the conduct of the election asking him if he is sure whether the situation will normalize before his suggested date.
