2023 : Adamawa Muslims Council raises alarm over alleged plot blocking its members over electoral registration
From Umar Dankano,Yola.
Muslims Council of Nigeria,Adamawa state branch has alleged a sinister plot of blocking its members (Muslims) from voting during elections and participating in the voters registration by some unscrupulous elements.
The Council disclosed the allegations in Yola weekend during an emergency meeting with all its executives from the 21 local government areas in the state alleging that intelligence report at its disposal has revealed that Muslims are being blocked to cast their votes or register during elections in some local governments in the State.
Chairman of the Council,Gambo Jika decried that in some of these communities where their members are in the minority are allegedly subjected to all manner of intimidation and harassment to the extent of sending them to their homes denying them of their civil rights.
“We the Muslims Council of Adamawa state summoned this meeting purposely to discuss and proper solutions to some the challenges facing us in the state and Nigeria as a whole especially on the ongoing voter’s registration which has been turned to be like war.
“There are many places in some local councils in the state(Adamawa) where Muslims are not allowed to go and vote even after being registered In some cases,unpatriotic vigilante groups are used to harass our people not to go polling centres in their communities.
“We have it on record that,this unacceptable utterances occurred in the previous elections but we will resist any attempt henceforth we call on security agencies,traditional leaders and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure people are allowed to cast their votes or register without any molestation”.Jika declared.
He cried out to the state government and security agencies to as a matter of utmost importance address the alleged practice noting that if not tackle with the seriousness it deserved,the situation can degenerate into crisis.
He further admonished all and sundry to come out and register to enable them beat the additional two weeks announced by INEC ahead of the 2023 elections.
An impeccable source interviewed by peoples Daily on condition of anonymity listed the affected local government areas to include; Numan,Michika,Lamurde and Mayo-belwa respectively.
Reacting to the development,Director General on media and Communications to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri,Comrade Solomon Kumagar said the issue is a sensitive one in nature and needed more time to find out before commenting on it.
When contacted over the alleged security breach,Spokesman of the Adamawa state Command,S.P Suleiman Nguroje said that he hasn’t been briefed on such development yet promising to cross check and get back to this reporter but couldn’t do so up to the time of filing in this report.
