‘AMAC Poll Outcome Was Brazen Assault On Foundation Of Democracy’ – Tanko Yunusa

The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Tanko Yunusa, has described the outcome of Saturday’s Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship election as a political setback and brazen assault on democracy.

Naija News reports that Yunusa, while briefing journalists in Abuja on Monday, said the Obidient Movement rejects the victory declared for the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that the election was marred by violence, intimidation, and manipulation.

Yunusa called for an immediate investigation into the conduct of the just-concluded election, insisting that the announced results did not reflect the will of the electorate.

According to him, the Obidient Movement supported the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Moses Paul, and mobilised strongly in pursuit of a new Nigeria.

He said, “We address you today with a heavy heart, filled with both profound disappointment and righteous anger. The results of the Abuja Municipal Area Council chairmanship election are not just a political setback; they are a brazen assault on the very foundations of our democracy.”

Yunusa also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of contributing to voter apathy by restructuring polling units without adequate public notice, making it difficult for voters to locate their voting centres.

He stated that the situation turned deadly at the Gwagwa polling unit, where one of its agents, Musa Abubakar, was allegedly killed while resisting an attempt by hoodlums to seize ballot boxes, stressing that the incident created panic among party representatives across several polling areas.

Yunusa alleged that agents were harassed, threatened, and intimidated in a deliberate attempt to silence them, adding that fear forced many to abandon their posts after the killing. He explained that the movement initially avoided raising widespread alarm to prevent further panic among agents still on duty.

While expressing sympathy to the bereaved family, Yunusa said Moses Paul and his team had visited to show solidarity and support.

While appealing to Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the international community to press electoral authorities to address the alleged irregularities and restore confidence in the electoral process, Yunusa added, “This is no longer about one election. This is a fight for the soul of our nation.”