Rep Member Alleges Threat To His Life

A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Saleh Hassan yesterday alleged that his life is under threat reclaiming his mandate.

Saleh who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadigbo Federal Constituency of Benue State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic arty (PDP) said he reclaimed his mandate after a federal high court presided by Justice Adeniyi Ademola nullified the election of Mr. Christian Adaba-Abah aka “Mad Lion” on grounds that he failed to meet the requirements of the Electoral Act and the 1999 constitution as amended.

Saleh who addressed reporters at the National Assembly complex claimed that since he reclaimed his mandate, his life, that of his aged mother and relatives residing in his village have come under threat from supporters Adaba-Abah.

He disclosed that he had already written a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase and heads of other security outfits to wade into the matter in view of the fact that his adversaries are capable of carrying out the act any moment from now.

He also claimed that miscreants acting at the behest of Adaba-Abah have taken the laws into their hands by ensuring the blockade of the Otupka federal highway linking Benue State and the South-East geo-political region.

Stating that he had been duly sworn in as a member of the Eighth National Assembly after obtaining his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) based on the order of the federal high court, he recalled that his problem with Adaba-Adah started in 2011 when he was asked by the court to step down for him after showing proof that he presented a forged national diploma certificate of the Federal Polytechnic Mubi, in Adamawa State in his INEC form declaration.

He said he revived the matter again based on position of the law that bars any person with a criminal record from contesting election after he lost out to Adaba-Adah who still ignored an earlier court order, re-launched his bid and won his constituency seat in the just concluded 2015 general elections.

Saleh thereby urged security operatives to act upon the directive of the court by issuing a bench warrant for the arrest of Adaba-Abah and subsequent prosecution in a court of competent jurisdictions over committal of perjury in the INEC form he filled to vie for his constituency seat in the 2015 poll.