Former Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero, has called on security agencies to arrest Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Director of Media of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, for falsely and unofficially announcing PDP’s victory in 23 states while Nigerians awaited the result of last weekend’s presidential ballot.

Aliero, a one-time Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, made the call yesterday while responding to questions from journalists in Birnin Kebbi on his victory as the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kebbi Central Senatorial candidate.

Aliero said it is an act of irresponsibility to make such a “stupid statement by Fani-Kayode,” adding: “Fani-Kayode is supposed to be arrested because such people can cause mayhem in this country.”

He urged Nigerians to ignore such inflammatory statements as they can cause crisis in the country.

Aliero pointed out that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the only body empowered by the constitution and the Electoral Act to declare election results. He regretted that two separate results were released for the presidential election, “the INEC one and that of the fraudulent one by so called Fani-Kayode with the intent to rig the election.”

The former minister described the introduction of card reader by INEC in the conduct of elections as a revolution. According to him, “The use of card reader is a revolution, as far as I am concerned, in the conduct of elections in Nigeria because it has completely eliminated electoral fraud. This is because previous elections were marred by election fraud.”

Aliero called on INEC to maintain the use of card reader and improve on the lapses recorded.

He expressed appreciation to God and the people of the state for his victory.

“We were in PDP just about four months ago and all of a sudden we changed to APC because of injustice manifested throughout the conduct of primary election in Kebbi State,” he said.

Aliero said the state is in dire need of agricultural reform to produce more food for the populace and create jobs for the unemployed people in the state.

“Another area that I think that deserves the attention of the Federal Government is the issue of desert encroachment that is seriously ravaging the state. We need urgent attention to address these challenges,” he said.

He promised to do his very best to ensure that he gives his people the more robust representation that they require and to also ensure that all the challenges the state is facing now would be brought to the attention of the senate and the government at the centre.

•Photo shows Senator Aliero.

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