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 voter’s 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 an 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 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 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 for not to go polling centers in their communities.
“We have it on record that, this unacceptable utterance 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 tackled 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 to beat the additional two weeks announced by INEC ahead of the 2023 elections.
He also commended the governor of the state Rgt Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for his giant effort towards infrastructural development in many areas of the state
While commending the governor for his effort in the security development of the state, Mallam Jika also applauds the governor for supporting this year’s Muslim pilgrims at the Holly land.
An impeccable source interviewed by People Daily on the condition of anonymity listed the affected local government areas to include; Numan, Michika, Lamurde, and Mayo-below 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, the Spokesman of the Adamawa state Command, S.P Suleiman Nguroje said that he hasn’t been briefed on such development yet and promised to cross-check and get back to this reporter but couldn’t do so up to the time of filing in this report.
