The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State has described the recently concluded local government council elections as a “mockery” of democracy, alleging that the exercise lacked transparency and failed to provide a level playing field for opposition parties.
The opposition party, which boycotted the election, also criticised the administration of Governor Muhammadu Yahaya over recent demolitions of structures across the state and the expulsion of Gombawa Motors from the Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo Mega Motor Park.
The party’s position was contained in a press statement issued on Tuesday by its Public Relations Officer, Abdulkadir-Ahmad Dukku.
Recall that Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission had adjudged All Progressives Congress winner of 24 chairmanship and 240 councillorship positions.
On the local government election conducted by GOSIEC, the PDP maintained that the process did not meet democratic standards.
The statement read, “On the just concluded Local Government Councils Elections, the PDP in Gombe State described the election as a mockery of the sensitivities of the people of Gombe State and lacking transparency. The so-called elections which was conducted by GOSIEC failed in the mobilization of the opposition parties to participate in the so-elections.”
The party said its decision to boycott the exercise was informed by what it described as irregularities.
“The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Gombe State boycotted the election, describing it as a child play where ballot boxes were not taken to the polling units, which was a repetition of the Kangaroo 2024 Local Government Council Elections under the leadership of Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s APC Government in Gombe State,” the statement added.
Beyond the election, the PDP accused the state government of undermining democratic principles through its ongoing demolition exercise.
According to the statement, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gombe State wishes to express its position over the actions of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and the APC Government in Gombe State which we consider as immoral and a gross abuse of democratic principles and the Nigerian Constitution.”
The party alleged that the demolition of structures had created tension between the government and affected residents, while also criticising comments allegedly made by the governor in a viral video.
It further urged the governor to protect the rights and dignity of all citizens, saying, “Such vulgar utterances violates the fundamental rights to dignity of the human person as well as the administration of democratic principles in governance.”
The PDP also condemned the expulsion of Gombawa Motors from the Dankwambo Mega Motor Park, alleging that the action was politically motivated.
“The PDP, Gombe State also frowns at the recent expulsion of Gombawa Motors from conducting its transport business in the Dankwambo Mega Motor Park as a result of exercising the organization’s civic right as transportation service providers,” the statement said.
It argued that members of the transport company, as citizens of Gombe State, were entitled to express their political views without intimidation and should be allowed to operate freely at the state-owned motor park.
The party called on the state government to uphold democratic values, respect the constitutional rights of citizens and ensure fairness in governance.