Taraba: APC gives 24-hour ultimatum to TSIEC to rescind rescheduled June 30 LG polls

The major opposition political party in Taraba State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has given a 24-hour ultimatum to the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC) to rescind what it described as their purported rescheduled local government elections slated for 30th June, 2020.

The APC Chairman in the state, Barrister Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi, gave the ultimatum on Wednesday while briefing newsmen at the party secretariat in Jalingo.

El-Sudi alleged that the APC in the state was not formally served with the letter written by TSIEC on the 25th February, 2020 informing them of a time table for the local government elections.

According to El-Sudi, despite the lack of proper service of the time table on APC, the party started preparation for the election not until the State Deputy Governor, Haruna Manu announced locking down the state as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

He said during the period of the lockdown, movements were restricted, no campaigns, no sale of forms, no opportunity for screening of aspirants for conduct of primary elections, awaiting the main elections with their opponents.

“All these activities are provided for in either the Taraba State Local Government Law 2000 (as amended) or by the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2002 (as amended).

“We have written the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission and given them 24 hours to rescind their purported reschedule of the Local government elections slated for 30th June, 2020.

“They have not done the needful as required by our laws, it is therefore unfair and unjust to come up with a new date when they did not make any statement on the earlier time table which was overtaken by events. They need to draw up a new time table for adequate preparations and compliance with the electoral laws”, said El-Sudi.

Taraba APC boss added, “If TSIEC does not rescind or withdraw its new time table, we will have no other option but to refuse participating in the election but will file an action in a competent Court of law to challenge their electoral activities”.

Responding, TSIEC Chairman, Chief (Dr.) Philip Duwe, described the allegations by APC Chairman, El-Sudi, as baseless and unfounded, sayin