Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state are enmeshed in a war of words over alleged planned rigging and manipulation of the August 17 local government election in the state.

The APC in a statement by its publicity committee chairman, Malam Saadu Umar, said there are indications that the election would be rigged in favour of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) which is the ruling party in the state.

The APC said, "President Tinubu and his INEC are unlike Bala Mohammed who in October 2020, conducted the worst local government election ever in the history of Bauchi State."

But reacting, "Governor Bala Mohammed through his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, said, "The APC should be reminded that nothing in Bala Mohammed's antecedents barely suggests any anti-democratic tendencies.

"On the contrary, the records are clear on his unambiguous commitment to constitutionalism, diversity and inclusion.

"Neither does Bala Mohammed endorse a one-party state nor does he loath a virile or responsible opposition capable of providing constructive alternatives to public policy, united and strong enough to take over government should the electorate so decide.

"Only a government that is unsure of its performance or the integrity of the electoral umpire would resort to underhand measures to win an election."