Nigeria Content Online

The Congress for
Progressive Change (CPC) in Nasarawa State has accused Governor Aliyu
Akwe Doma of plotting to manipulate the forthcoming general elections
to the advantage of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The CPC, in a
statement by its interim chairman, Muhammad El-Yakub, said part of the
plot includes elongating the tenures of local government chairmen to
give the PDP more time to manipulate the election at the local
government council levels to its favour.

Undemocratic elongation

“We declare that
the process to be embarked upon by the government is uncalled for and
undemocratic. The CPC in Nasarawa State will do everything possible to
stop any attempt to elongate the tenure of these occupiers of the
councils with all the strength we can muster,” according to Mr.
El-Yakub.

The party also said
the plot would be carried out in conjunction with the state assembly,
which is expected to pass a law that would elongate the tenure of the
chairmen.

However, the state
government has denied knowledge of the allegations. The information
commissioner, Mamman Alakayi, said he could not comment because he had
not seen such statement. He called on the party to come forward for
discussions.

“The CPC has the
alternative to engage the government for a dialogue that would make the
democratic norms in the state strong,” he said.

Poor oversight

The CPC also
slammed the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC)
for inadequate preparations for the local government council elections,
even though the tenures of the present chairmen expire next month.

The party said the
poor preparations, compared to last year’s elections, were an
indication that the commission may be co-conspirators in the plot.

“Up till now,
NASIEC is yet to come up with guidelines for the elections; the
timetable for the elections is yet to be released,” said the party.

“Under normal
circumstances, NASIEC should have already started meeting with all the
political parties that are interested in contesting the council
elections,” it said.

The CPC stated that it would not “fold its arms and watch the alleged manipulation unfold.”

The party reminded
the state government of a judgment by a court in Lafia, the state
capital, that restricted it from appointing anyone to oversee the
affairs of local government councils.

“We enjoin NASIEC that the world is watching and it is in the best
interest of the body that it should begin, without delay, the
modalities towards conducting free, fair, and credible elections,” it
said.