TheCable

Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi state, says what happened at the Imo governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a new dimension of fraud.

Bagudu said this on Thursday while speaking with journalists after a meeting between some APC governors and Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the party, in Abuja.

Hope Uzodimma, senator representing Imo west, and Uche Nwosu, son-in-law of Rochas Okorocha, governor of Imo, were both declared winners of the Imo primary.

While Ahmed Gulak, chairman of the election committee, who absconded said Uzodimma won, Henry Idahagbon, secretary of committee, announced Nwosu.

Thereafter, the national working committee (NWC) of the party cancelled the exercise and suspended it indefinitely.

The Kebbi governor said what happened in Imo is “something you can laugh at.”

“What happened in Imo state has introduced a new dimension to fraud in the electoral process which we call the dulakin of internal democracy,” he said,

“So, it’s rather something you can laugh at, its not anything to be associate with because the gentleman absconded leaving his hotel room and disappeared rushing to Abuja to announce results when the election was supposed to take place the following day.

“That is what happened and he left behind all his members plus secretary who now decided to stay back and do the rest of their duties.  But as it is Mr chairman felt that, that process since the chairman is not aware, they are looking at whether accepting the results  or starting a new process of a new election for whatever it is,  for which ever it is for Imo state we are fine as long as there is justice, fairness and equity.”

The governor said despite their differences, they still believe in President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The prime factor is that despite our individual grudges and  differences, we still believe in the man of president Muhammadu Buhari and that has become a uniting force that any time you think and you are angry and you remember him,  you come back tot the fold,” he said.