From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
Candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have won the chairmanship seats in all the 16 local government areas of Taraba State in Saturday’s local government elections held across the state.
Chairman of the state Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), Chief Philip Danladi Duwe, disclosed this yesterday while declaring results of the election at the Commission’s headquarters in Jalingo.
He disclosed that the results of the165 contested councilorship seats were declared at various local government areas.
“This election was keenly contested by six parties and the Peoples Democratic Party has won overwhelmingly from the results here declared. The results announced at the local government collation centres are legally valid and what we are doing is just to validate what has been announced.
“We are very grateful to the media for the objective coverage from the onset of this journey to this point. Despite the hard times, you have shown absolute commitment and resilience. You have served your fatherland excellently and you can hold your shoulders high.
“To assert credibility, we must get as much observation and criticisms of what we are doing and suggestions of ways we can improve. We would study the reports from various quarters and leverage on them for better performance subsequently,” Duwe advised.
But the All Progressives Congress (APC) described the election as a sham and a mere charade
The state chairman of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi, alleged that in most locations, thumb printing was done in the homes of PDP stalwarts in many local government areas, while people waited at polling units but did not see election officials or materials.