I am no longer a member of APC, says Yobe SIEC chair

Dr. Mamman, YSIEC chairman 

The Chairman of Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr. Mamman Mohammed said he seized to be a member of the ruling All Progressive Congress(APC) on the day he was appointed as the chairman of the electoral umpire in the State.

 

Dr. Mamman, a  brilliant trained surgeon was elevated  by former Governor Ibrahim Gaidam to head the State Electoral Commissioner where he was serving as one of the commissioners after the expiration of the second tenure of the former chairman, Mohammed Jauro.

 

Dr. Mamman  who was reacting to questions from members  of the Correspondent Chapel of NUJ, Yobe State over allegations that he is a member of the All Progressive Congress(APC) having served as a member of the 2015 campaign organization of Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam noted that, the only political party he presently belongs to is the State Independent Electoral Commission which he superintends at the moments.

“I want to categorical state here that those issues of me being a member of APC is in the past. I day I ways appointed into this office, I seize to be a member of any political party including the APC. The Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission is my only political party at the moment.

 

“My job here is to be impartial and do justices to all manners of people without compromising my office and the mandate that I am entrusted. I will do that by being transparent and involving all the stakeholders including the political parties and you the journalists. I have nothing to hide and I will ensure that to the later,” Dr. Mamman pledged.

Dr. Mamman with Chairman of Yobe Correspondent Chapel, NUJ, Abubakar(left) during the courtesy call in his office in Damaturu

The Yobe Election Boss also informed that his commission like every other sector was also smacked by the Coronavirus pandemic barely three days when he was about to announce a date for the Local Government Elections in the state.

 

“This Coronavirus has caused a lot of damage as you are aware. It is sad that we have gotten approval from His Excellency, Gov. Mai Mala Buni for the conduct of the Local Government Elections and we were just left with three days to have a stakeholders meeting with the political parties including you the press for the announcement of our election timetable when we were asked to stop all kinds of social gatherings. As a medical doctor, I have no option but to comply.

 

“That is the sad news about our efforts. By this time, we would have conducted our elections and sworn in the chairmen. But this is where we are now,” Dr. Mamman explained.

 

He however disclosed that, the commission will soon come up with a new date as the COVID 19 situation is gradually easing off.

 

He called on the press to give him the maximum support he required to succeed in his new office, stressing that, “you journalists have a critical role to play in education of voters and the conduct of the election. We take your partnership very seriously and I am soliciting for your support to succeed”.

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