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| Dame Pauline Tallen |
Plateau South Senatorial Zone: Pauline
Tallen rejects outcome of purported primary Election, says vote were merely
allocated.
By Joseph A Adudu
October 11, 2018
Dame
Pauline Tallen, one of the aspirants for Plateau South Senatorial Seat in the
just concluded All Progressive Congress (APC) primaries has vehemently rejected
the outcome of the exercise describing it as a charade and does not reflect
what the party stands for and also fell short of the party’s constitution and
laid down rules.
Speaking to journalists in Jos on Thursday, Tallen who
spoke through her media aide, Shabul Mazadu said that what took place in
Shendam during the primaries last week completely felt short of expectation as
the purported primary election was marred by violence and intimidation of
delegates and selective participation in contrast to the party mantra of
peaceful conduct. Mrs Tallen said that
in the light of the above, she has rejected the outcome of the purported
election and further described the exercise as a sham.
Other reasons she adduced for her
rejection of the exercise was that the committee members for the exercise,
instead of commencing elections after much delay, went to consult with Governor
Lalong for over three hours to allegedly perfect rigging plans.
She further
stated that the exercise was not fair and transparent as accreditation of
voters was carried out in an improper manner as delegates list was doctored and
skewed to favour a particular candidate.
According to
her, Delegates were openly threatened to be killed if they do not vote for the
candidate of the Governor's choice stressing that those who kicked against it
were beaten and subsequently hospitalized due to severe injuries.
She further
said that Elections were delayed for two days just to frustrate other
candidates while arm-twisting of other opponents persisted while inducement
with Cash by Government officials was seen openly distributing huge amounts of
money to delegates and that delegates that refused to be coerced were beaten
and tear gassed.
On the whole, she said that the entire process
was fraught with violence, intimidation, police brutality mixed with thuggery
adding that above all, delegates loyal to her were barred from the venue. For
these reasons, Tallen said that the process was neither free nor fair nor was
it credible, consequently, not accepted by her.
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