The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Bauchi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, on Monday said voting during Presidential and National Assembly elections in Bogoro Local Government Area was characterized by intimidation and harassment of electoral officials.
Abdullahi said this while briefing leaders of political parties and stakeholders in Bauchi.
“Voting activities in Bogoro local government area of Bauchi State was characterized by intimidation and harassment of election officials.
“The results for Bogoro were declared and returned because the crises erupted after voting and collation were concluded.
“The collation officials were intimidated at around 3.00 p.m. when voting and collation processes have been concluded at polling units and ward levels, therefore, we were only awaiting collation at Federal Constituency Centre,’’ he said.
Abdullahi said that apart from Bogoro, there were serious tension in Tafawa Balewa, Dass, Zaki and Gamawa Local Government Areas of the state during the polls.
“In spite of peaceful conduct of the election, there were little issues in Bogoro, Tafawa Balewa, Dass, Zaki and Gamawa Local Government Areas,’’ he said.
“If not for the timely intervention of security agencies, the affected areas would have been engulfed in serious political crises,’’ Abdullahi said.
The commissioner, however, said that all the three senatorial seats and 11 federal constituencies’ seats were declared and returned.
Abdullahi pleaded with the contestants and political gladiators to prevail on their followers to allow peace to prevail during the forthcoming governorship and state assembly elections.
“I am also calling on security and law enforcement agencies to sustain the momentum of prevalence of peaceful atmosphere during the polls.
“I assured you that the commission will give all of you a level playing field as it did during the last election,’’ the REC said.