A former Deputy Governor of Plateau State and Senatorial aspirant for
Plateau South in the recently concluded primaries of the All
Progressives Congress, Dame Pauline Tallen, has once again called on the
National Secretariat of the party to cancel the senatorial primary in
the zone, describing the exercise as “charade.”
It would be recalled that the immediate past Deputy Governor of the State, Ignatius Longjan won the primary election.
DAILY POST reports that the senatorial primaries of the APC in Plateau South senatorial district turned violent last Thursday as Mrs. Tallen was whisked away by her security details.
Tallen, who spoke through her Media Aide, Shabul Mazadu, in Jos, the
Plateau State capital, said the process was marred by irregularities and
thus would not accept the outcome.
She said, “In consonance with the laid down guidelines as spelt by
the party, primaries for the senatorial ticket was expected to hold on
2nd October, 2018.
“As a loyal Party member and having consulted widely, I picked the
form to contest for the APC Plateau South Senatorial District ticket.
“It is saddening, however, that contrary to the procedure spelt out
by the National Secretariat, the case of Plateau South was a far cry
from the expected as the primaries purported to have been held was
masterminded by violent intimidation of delegates and selective
participation”, she decried.
“In total contrast to our party mantra of peaceful conduct, equitable
participation and uniting members, the following antidemocratic events
which played out cut a negative impression of the APC in Plateau State.
“The committee members instead of commencing elections after much
delay went to consult with the Governor for over three hours just to
perfect the rigging plans.
“Accreditation of voters was carried out in an improper manner as the
delegates list was doctored discriminatory skewed to favour a
particular candidate. The process was not in any way transparent”, she
lamented.
The former Deputy Governor further explained that, “Delegates were
openly threatened to be killed if they do not vote for the candidate of
the Governor’s choice. Those that kicked against it were beaten and
subsequently hospitalised due to severe injuries.
According to her, “Elections were delayed for two days just to
frustrate other candidates while arm-twisting of other opponents
persisted.”
She also decried the level of monetary inducement exhibited during the aforementioned exercise.
“Inducement with cash by Government officials, who were seen openly
distributing huge amounts of money to delegates. Delegates that refused
to be coerced were beaten and tear-gassed.
“On the whole, the entire process was fraught with violence,
intimidation, police brutality mixes with thuggery and above all
delegates loyal to other candidates were barred from the venue. Thus the
process was neither free and fair nor was it credible.”
Tallen, however, added that, “In the light of the incontrovertible
fact that the election was a charade and does not reflect what the APC
stands for, to the extent of the incongruence of the process with our
party constitution and laid down rules.
“The said primaries should be cancelled and the result declared null
and void while the National Secretariat emplace remedial measures to
ensure we produce a candidate following the appropriate due process.
The former Deputy Governor urged all her supporters to remain law-abiding and not to take laws into their hands.