APC, Buhari Rigged Election In 2019 – Afegbua

Kassim Afegbua, a former campaign spokesman for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the All Progressives Congress and President Muhammadu Buhari of rigging the 2019 election.

According to Afegbua, the ruling party rigged out the former Vice President using Borno and Yobe States during the general elections.

Afegbua when asked during an interview with Punch if Atiku was rigged out said, “of course, we were rigged out. They used Borno and Yobe states to rig the election.

“Yobe state recorded close to 84 per cent attendance; such a curious figure where an insurgency has been ravaging, same goes for Borno, about 86 per cent attendance.

“The figures we scored in those two states affected us badly, and we felt the military under Buratai might have compromised. Don’t forget that there was this issue of bullets for a ballot during that election. It was like a threat and the rest, as they say, is history.”

The former campaign spokesman of the ex-vice president when asked if he thinks Atiku could rule in 2019 said, “In 2019, Atiku was regionally suitable to be a candidate because the party allowed all the aspirants to come from the North. I was supporting Aminu Tambuwal, the Sokoto State Governor. He remains a friend, a brother and a political associate. I worked tirelessly to ensure he got the ticket because I believed then that a man without encumbrances was better than one who was being alleged to be corrupt. When Tambuwal lost at the Port Harcourt primary election, I had no option other than to support the man who emerged as the party’s candidate.

“I was appointed as spokesman for the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, and not as a spokesman for the Atiku Campaign Organisation. People must understand the difference. From all the algorithms, it was obvious the Waziri of Adamawa had what it takes in 2019 to lead, but in this era and time, the political pendulum is swinging southwards.”

He, however, took the opportunity to charge the North to allow a candidate from the South to contest in the 2023 presidential election and ask Atiku to also rest.

Afegbua said, “The North should allow us to present candidates in order to balance the equation. Again, at 76, Atiku is fatigued, tired, spent and aged. He should simply allow younger ones to lead while he gives guidance.

“He should join his octogenarian friends to play the role of elder statesman in the interest of shaping the politics and destiny of this great country. At 76, going to 77, he should not be going round in the name of seeking election. He should enjoy the comfort of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”