The Gomber chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have traded words over an alleged plot to rig the governorship and state assembly elections slated for March 18.

The PDP had alleged that it uncovered an orchestrated plot by the ruling APC to rig the governorship and state house of assembly elections. The APC, on the other hand, said the PDP was lying because the party knew it would lose the elections.

Ayuba Aluke, PDP campaign spokesman, at a news conference in Gombe on Tuesday, alleged that Governor Inuwa Yahaya of the APC had plotted to compromise the elections to ensure victory for his party and secure his reelection.

He said the PDP had obtained audio evidence of the alleged plan and had submitted the same to the security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other concerned stakeholders for necessary action.

Mr Aluke decried the level of desperation by the APC to “win elections at all cost through vote-buying, intimidation and compromising the Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS) to get the result they want.”

He added, “We have authenticated audio evidence where the current governor of Gombe state under the leadership of the APC is discussing and sharing information with some of his cohorts. He (the governor) said that he is working and planning toward rigging, manipulating and also out-smarting the BVAS machines and all the electoral laws.”

APC campaign spokesman Ismaila Uba-Misilli said the PDP was frightened by the sterling performance of Mr Yahaya.

“As far as we are concerned, there is no plan to rig any election, so all these are concussions of facts by the PDP, knowing full well that they are bound to lose the election and may not have anything to show to the public,” stated Mr Uba-Misilli, claiming that the PDP was only peddling falsehood to attract goodwill for themselves or to score political points.

The APC official added, “I advise them to face their campaign and woo voters. Let them stop propagating falsehoods against the governor. The governor is a man of peace and one who has so much to show to the public and electorate for them to vote for him. The electorate are ready to vote for the governor. In fact, they are willing and ever ready to give him a resounding victory come March 18, 2023.”

(NAN)