Suntai denies rigging Adamawa polls in Nyako’s favour

GOVERNOR Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State has frowned at the allegation that he was co-opted into the just-concluded governorship election in Adamawa State by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure victory for Governor Murtala Nyako.

Some politicians from Adamawa, especially those from the Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN), have allegedly accused Suntai of rigging the governorship election in favour of Nyako.

Opposition politicians, including the state secretary of the ACN and the Special Adviser to Nyako on Political Matters, have continued to trade accusations on the way and manner the election was conducted.

Using the Hausa Service of the Voice of America (VOA) in a popular Hausa programme known as Saka Maiwuya, the ACN supporters alleged that Suntai allowed himself to be “used to rig the election”, describing the role allegedly played by the Taraba governor in the Adamawa governorship polls as “a threat to democracy”.

Piqued by the allegation, Governor Suntai denied it, saying: “I was neither an electoral officer nor a voter in the election”.

Suntai, who spoke with The Guardian through his Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Emmanuel Bello, said “there is no truth in the charges that Governor Suntai rigged for Governor Nyako in the recent election in that state”.

Admitting that Suntai was in Adamawa State throughout the period of the said election to render helping hands to Nyako, he said Suntai did not in any way indulge in election rigging.

“The latest media onslaught on the person of Governor Suntai is unfortunate. Mischief-makers are at work again. Some electronic media have gone to town with rumours masquerading as news. But the allegations remain that they are mere lies”, Bello said.

Describing Suntai as a “true party man”, he agreed that Suntai assisted Nyako in canvassing for votes “out of the fact that Nyako had earned the admiration of Adamawa voters due to his track records as a performer”.

Wondering why some people have continued to point accusing fingers at Governor Suntai, Bello said: “It is unthinkable that Suntai would stoop low to allow rigging anywhere because he detests any form of electoral violence. That was why he signed a Bill into law banning thuggery in Taraba State”.