FORMER Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, has warned against any attempt to manipulate next year’s senatorial election in Jigawa State, saying his long experience in policing and election security has given him a clear understanding of how electoral manipulation is carried out.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 19 at the start of his campaign for Jigawa South-West senatorial district seat, the former Police chief, who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), assured that his campaign would be peaceful and guided by the law.
“I assure you we are going to see one of the most peaceful conduct of campaigns. We are going to do it according to the law, we are going to be fair, and we are going to be respectful,” he said.
Abba warned against any attempt to interfere with the election or manipulate his results, stating: “If it is because you think you know people at the top, the top is not a no-go area for me. It’s not a no-go area for me.
“If it is those tactics that are being used to manipulate results, don’t dare do it on me, because I know how it’s done, I know how it’s investigated and I know how culprits are prosecuted.”
Citing his role in the security planning for the 2015 general elections as part of his experience in election management, Abba said: “I know about elections in and out. Don’t you dare touch my results. You will have cause to regret.”
He warned political thugs to stay away from his campaign, saying anyone who attempts to use violence would face the law, noting: “We are not going to use thugs. If you are using thugs, tell them to distance themselves from me.”
The former Police chief said his campaign would focus on qualitative representation, with priority given to security, education, healthcare, agriculture and youth employment, adding that his experience as a Police officer would be useful in tackling insecurity across the country, not just his constituency alone.
He promised to support farmers with access to fertiliser, chemicals, tractors and other inputs needed to increase production, assuring that education and healthcare would also receive attention if he wins the election, adding: “I assure the voters that you will not regret having a representative whose intention is none other than to provide qualitative representation.”
