Lafia — The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Nasarawa State chapter, has alleged that there are plans by Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma to rig the 2011 general election.

In his reaction to the allegation, the Commissioner of Information, Barr. Mamman Alakayi, called on the CPC to engage in initiatives that would strengthen democratic norms in the state.

A press statement signed by the state Interim Chairman of the CPC, Muhammad El-Yakub, alleged that part of the plan was to extend the tenure of local government chairmen which would expire in November, so as to use them to achieve the alleged manipulation.

El-Yakub further alleged that the plan is in phases and that if it fails, Doma would put in place a Transition Monitoring Committee (TMC) for each council area.

"This action was intended to give the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state enough time to manipulate the election to their advantage, adding that the plot is to be carried out in collaboration with the House of Assembly which was expected to pass a law that would elongate the tenure of the chairmen.

"We declare that the process to be embarked upon by the government is undemocratic and that the CPC in Nasarawa State would resist any attempt to elongate the tenure of local council chairmen with all the strength we can muster," the statement added.

The CPC also alleged that the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) is also part of the plan, as the commission has shown no indication for preparations for election in the local government councils, even as the tenure of the present chairmen expires on October 30.

"The chairmen and councillors were elected in a controversial election on November 1, 2008, instead of declaring the result of the elections at the designated points, the results were declared at the City Hall, Lafia. The officials were also hurriedly sworn-in in very strange circumstances on November 4, 2008. However if we are to call that an election, then preparations for the next elections by NASIEC should have been in top gear by now".

The CPC said it would not fold its arms and allow the governor to rule the state as his personal estate for selfish reasons.

"In view of the fore-going, we advise NASIEC that in its intreast it should begin without delay, the modalities towards conducting free, fair and credible elections."