Returning officer absolves self of polls irregularity in Plateau

The Returning Officer in the Plateau North Senatorial District in the April 11 general elections, Prof. Rotgak Gofwen has absolved himself of any election irregularity in favour of any particular candidate in the poll.

Gofwen was accused of allegedly tampering with the election results in favour of the incumbent Governor Jonah Jang, who contested for the senatorial seat with Mrs. Eunice Ayisa Sambo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said that he only accepted and pronounced what was collated by the various presiding officers in the presence of all the political party agents, stressing that at that point, it was impossible to change any figure.

Gofwen wondered why the collating officers were left untouched but his critics are launching their diatribe against him only, a situation he described as unfortunate.

He was responding specifically to reactions from the social media, which he said was concocted by a group (names withheld). The allegations said “Prof. Rotgak Gofwen connived with the oppressor to scuttle the popular choice of the voters from the Northern Senatorial Zone, who overwhelmingly voted for Eunice Ayisa Sambo.

“As Returning Officer, Prof. Rotgak Gofwen proceeded to sign and announce the result despite the massive fraud that mars the electoral outcome.”

From the foregoing, you will agree with me beyond reasonable doubt that the entire mission of posts by the group on the Plateau Senatorial District result declaration was a calculated attempt aimed at assassinating the character and person of Prof. Gofwen, impugning his integrity, inciting and provoking bitterness and possibly violence against the person of Prof Rotgak Gofwen.

“This mission, clearly with a sinister motive explains why the persons are masked under the guise of the said group. However, unfortunately and possibly unknown to them is that the NCC regulation of SIM card registration Section 9, Sub-Section 7 has taken care of mischief makers who would want to hide under the guise of social media to carry out their nefarious activities.”