By Abdallah el-Kurebe, Editor
#TrackNigeria: The Sokoto state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that there are plans by some ‘elements’ to set the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on fire.
A statement by the State Public Secretary of the party, Sambo Bello Danchadi and made available to Newsdiaryonline Tuesday further said that the alleged planned action was to destroy available evidences that would be required at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
“Reliable information reaching the leadership of the Sokoto State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has it that some mischievous elements are holding clandestine meetings with a view to planning how to set the Sokoto State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on fire .
“The purpose of this nefarious action is to destroy all available evidences that will be required in the ongoing Sokoto State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
“The Sokoto State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress views this development with very serious concern, as it is intended to derail the course of justice, negatively impact on our nascent democracy and endanger peace and unity in our dear state .
“We therefore wish to appeal to all the security agencies in the state to note this development and take urgent appropriate measures to ensure that, the Sokoto State office of INEC and the documents contained therein are protected. A stitch in time, saves nine,” the statement read in full.
In a swift reaction to the allegation, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state also registered its concern and called on security agencies to rise up to the challenge by preventing the occurrence of the alleged plan.
This is contained in a statement issued by the State Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma and made available to Newsdiaryonline on Tuesday.
According to the statement, “The People’s Democratic Party, Sokoto State is deeply concerned about the alarm raised by the All Progressives Congress in the state on possible plans by certain unnamed people to burn down the Headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission in Sokoto.
“The alarm from our sister political organization needs to be taken seriously by all security agencies in Sokoto State and all stakeholders.
This is considering the serious implications of that possibility to the ongoing election cases before the courts, most of which the PDP instituted.
“We therefore, demand that security agencies should not only be on extra alert to secure the INEC Headquarters from such infringement but also to investigate the matter, with the assistance of the APC, who claim to have information on the threat.
“Our party is however of the view that prompt prosecution of similar cases, in which arrests have been made would be a deterrent to these criminal acts.
“These include the arrest of an INEC official with a card reader configured for Kebbe Local Government on Emir Yahaya Road, Sokoto before the supplementary governorship election, whom we understand the leader of a political party in Sokoto State is making frantic efforts to have released from detention.
“The PDP is in total support of all efforts to safeguard premises and materials that are critical to the dispensation of true democracy and protection of the will of the people of Sokoto State, as expressed through the 2019 governorship election,” the statement read in full.