PDP, APGA cry foul over “disappearance” of returning officers in Lafia

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Nasarawa State have cried foul that result in parts of Lafia may be cooked as they alleged that returning officers in four wards have disappeared alongside agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mark Yohanna Neto, spokesman of the PDP in the state, and Peter Ter, monitoring officer of the APGA in Lafia—East area of Lafia local government area alleged that all returning officers in four wards of Ashigye, Fadaman Bauna, Adogi and Assakio disappeared this evening with result sheets.

The two parties alleged that agents of the APC equally left the ward collation centres.

“We are aware of an incident in four wards in Lafia-East where returning officers just disappeared. Curiously, all APC agents at the same collation centres have disappeared,” said Mark Neto of the PDP.

This is just as Mr. Ter of APGA alleged that “All the returning officers are not on ground; they left with the result sheets. Also, all APC agents have left without a trace. We are left here in the dark here at Ashigye. I made calls to our agents in the other wards, and they are telling me the same thing; that the returning officers disappeared without a word to them.”

But the state APC chairman, Mr. Philip Shekwo said he had no information that his party’s agents at the ward collation centres disappeared.

“I will not be able to speak properly on this for now because I have no such information,” Shekwo said.  

INEC spokesman in the state, Ibrahim Abdullahi told Daily Trust on phone that he contacted the Electoral Officer in Lafia on the allegations, saying he was told that all returning offcers have been dispatched to their designated centres. He said there was no report saying they disappeared from the ward collation centres.

State police command spokesman, ASP Umaru Ismaila said the police have no comments to pass on the allegations, explaining that if the officers disappeared, it was for INEC to be contacted, not the police.