Tunde Omolehin, Sokoto
Nigerian Youth Coalition Against Electoral Violence, Northwest zone, has backed Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, over his resolve to challenge the decision of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on its pronouncement of an inconclusive election in the state.
Speaking during a press conference held in Sokoto on Wednesday, the coalition state coordinator, Comrade Dalhatu, Marafa Kagara said the governor’s decision was an indication of his commitment to the promotion of the rule of law and good governance in the state.
“As a lawyer and a long-standing legislator with sterling records of national service, the youths in Sokoto state are solidly behind him in his pursuit of justice, fairness and the fight against corruption, gangsterism, and immorality in the state and nation at large.
“We will like to commend the patriotic gesture of Rt. Hon. Aminu, Waziri Tambuwal, for resisting all attempts by these violence-thirsty elements to instigate violent confrontations in the state at various levels of the electoral process,” Kagara explained.
Kagara noted that the members were deeply pained that the electoral umpire which ought to apply the rules fairly without fear or favour, had been engaging in selective application of the electoral law and its rules and regulations.
“What we are witnessing is double standards where returning officers speedily declare results in favour of APC candidates where they are in the majority and refuse to do so in the case of PDP and its candidates even though the party is clearly in the lead.”
The coalition, therefore, called on INEC to rescind its unpopular decision and immediately return the peoples mandate by declaring the PDP candidate, Aminu, Waziri Tambuwal, the winner of the just- concluded gubernatorial election in the state.