Mr Solomon Ndam, Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Plateau, has called on the police to investigate documents used in the party’s governorship candidate substitution process.
Ndam, who made the call at a news conference on Monday in Jos, alleged that a forged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Form EC11B was used in an attempt to present Jonathan Sunday Akuns as the party’s governorship candidate.
The chairman said he had executed the substitution form exclusively with Mr Alfred Dapal, who was elected as the party’s governorship candidate during a substitution primary held on Sept. 15.
Ndam explained that he was initially elected as the party’s governorship candidate during a primary held on May 29 and 30, but subsequently withdrew from the race to allow the party to conduct a substitution primary in line with the state’s zoning arrangement.
The chairman stated that Dapal emerged through affirmation as the sole governorship aspirant during the substitution primary.
According to him, the party’s electoral committee from the national headquarters abruptly left the venue during the exercise, creating an administrative vacuum.
Ndam said he subsequently invoked Article 12(8)(iii) of the party’s constitution, which he said empowered the state leadership to safeguard the party’s interests and complete the candidate nomination process under such circumstances.
He alleged that a document bearing his name and passport photograph but containing a signature he disowned was later presented in an attempt to upload Akuns as the party’s governorship candidate.
“I executed INEC Form EC11B exclusively with Mr Alfred Dapal,” he said.
Ndam called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Plateau Police Command to investigate the alleged forgery, identify those responsible and prosecute them in accordance with the law.
He also urged political stakeholders to respect due process in candidate selection, stressing that democratic procedures must not be undermined by alleged criminal acts.
The NDC chairman further disclosed that a Federal High Court had issued an order restraining Akuns from parading himself as the party’s governorship candidate pending the determination of a substantive suit filed by Dapal.
Ndam urged party members across the 17 local government areas of Plateau to remain committed to the NDC, expressing confidence in the party’s leadership and its political prospects.
He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to a transparent process, saying that the alleged irregularities would not deter its members from pursuing their political aspirations. (NAN)
