PDP Gombe Gov candidate loses polling unit
……alleges massive vote buying
Chima Azubuike
Gombe Peoples Democratic Party Gubernatorial candidate Muhammad Barde, has lost his polling unit to the incumbent Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress Muhammadu Yahaya.
Announcing the result on Saturday evening, the Assistant Presiding Officer Usman Memorial Bajoga ward 006 in Gombe Local Government Area Abubakar Salisu, said Barde polled 160, while APC’s gubernatorial candidate polled 195 votes.
However, from the result sheet signed by Salisu, out of the total votes cast five were invalid, New Nigeria Peoples Party scored six, African Democratic Congress polled two votes, while PDP recorded 160 votes, APC scored 195 to win the polling unit.
Speaking earlier, shortly after casting his vote Barde said there were indices to project that he would emerge victorious, stressing that he was aware of alleged vote buying across certain units.
The PDP candidate disclosed that he has reported the situation to relevant agencies, adding that he was confident it would be tackled.
He said, “We are confident if winning the election. We are aware that there is massive vote buying by APC government across the state. We are aware of their plans to intimate voters to ensure they cause mayhem across the state they have no other action they can take apart from massive vote buying and causing mayhem across the polling units. we are reporting to the enforcement agencies we have the EFCC and we are ensuring we report.”
While urging his supporters to do the right thing, Barde asked them to collect gifts offered to vote for their conscience, “Our support should collect and vote for their conscience. They have suffered for three years 10 months. Vote buying of N200, N500 won’t take them for next four years,” Barde added.
Earlier, in some polling units visited by our correspondent in Garko ward especially polling unit 109, there was increased voter apathy.
Some voters attributed it to the alleged subversion of their will.
A voter who identified himself as Baba Seyi, said he was was offered N2,000, adding that he would simply vote for his conscience.
“Before thugs dispersed us from the polling unit, making us to come here. Some of them came to offer us N2,000 but I can’t imagine myself collecting money to vote for someone who will not perform,” Baba Seyi said.
