Politics

Groups raise alarm over plots to subvert APC Primaries in Zamfara

Published

3 years ago

May 17, 2022

Ahead of party primaries preparatory for 2023 general elections, a group, APC Youth Solidarity Network (APCYSN) and the Guardian of Democracy and Development Initiative (GoDDI) have petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over plots by some forces in Zamfara state to subvert the primary election of the ruling party in the state.

The groups in a joint petition submitted to the office of the Chairman, INEC and copied the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police, Director-General, Department of State Security service as well as US, UK Embassies and the UN Resident Coordinator, Nigeria said except action is taken immediately many aspirants in Zamfara would be disenfranchised.

The petitioned signed by Mr. Danesi Momoh for APC Youth Solidarity Network and Mallam. Suleiman Musa of the Guardian of Democracy and Development Initiative respectively maintained that the groups have established beyond doubts that delegates to the party primaries have already been handpicked by those hell-bent on imposing candidates against the wishes of the people.

“We have uncovered grand plot by antidemocratic forces in Zamfara State to disenfranchise aspirants from participating in the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled party primaries in Zamfara State in clear contravention of the provision of Section 84 of the Nigerian Electoral Act 2022 on Nomination of Candidates by Parties.

“There are incontrovertible evidence that the provision of the Nigerian Electoral Act 2022, All Progressives Congress (APC) Constitution (March 2022 as amended) and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are being abuse in order to muscle out other aspirants to pave way for anointed candidates as if we are practicing monarchial system of government as opposed to democracy.

“We have established beyond reasonable doubts that delegates to party primaries have already been handpicked (selected) by those who are hell-bent on imposing candidates against the collective will of the Zamfara State Citizens in clear violations of extant laws and statues governing conducts of party primaries as enshrined in All Progressives Congress (APC) Constitution, Nigerian Electoral Act 2022 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As it stands today, Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State and his co-travelers has already allocated all elective seats that are to be contested at the primaries to their known political associates, friends and families ahead of the date of the primaries in brazen display of anti democratic ethos.

“Consequently, it goes without saying that Zamfara State All Progressives Congress (APC) has not learnt any lesson on the 2019 flawed All Progressives Congress (APC) Primaries that led to the disqualifications of all APC Candidates and their victory was truncated by the judgment of the Supreme Court that voided the primary election and the purported election was nullified. It is obvious that All Progressives Congress (APC) Zamfara State is on familiar journey to self INFLICTED destruction.

“We demand that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as an unbiased umpire to closely monitor conducts and proceedings of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State and other states with similar tendencies to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the laws with regards to party primaries and nomination of candidates so as to deepened democratic governance.

“Your intervention is most needed to ensure that All Progressives Congress (APC) and your commission do not run foul of the law by allowing anti democratic element to desecrate our democracy. We will not hesitate to explore all avenues to seek redress including but not limited to instituting legal action against the commission and the All Progressives Congress (APC) should you failed to act on this matter”, the petitioned noted.

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Politics

Kaduna LG poll: Election didn’t hold in Kagarko, Gov Sani should investigate, cancel exercise- PDP candidate Yusuf

Published

4 weeks ago

October 21, 2024

The Gleamer

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA) chairmanship election in Kaduna State, Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf, who is the Buhun Barkonun Abuja and Sa’Snusnugye (Sarkin Tausayin) Dnata, has described the outcome of the Chairmanship and Councillorship elections held in the state on Saturday, October 19.

The Chairman of Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM), Hajia Hajara Mohammed, announced that elections took place in all the 255 wards of the state and 23 LGAs.

She said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won all the 23 LGAs Chairmanship positions and all the 255 Councilors’ seats.

However, in a statement he signed and made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Yusuf, who resigned his position as Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Revenue and Security Taskforce ahead of the election, said he would have won massively if the election was free and fair.

He said that what happened at Kagarko Local Government Area was not an election, but a charade, adding he remains the popular candidate and choice of the people.

He called on Governor Uba Sani to critically look at what transpired over the weekend and cancel exercise.

He said: “I sincerely want to appreciate my people of Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State over the massive love and support shown to me during the Kaduna State Local Government Area election.

“However, I want to use this opportunity to tell the whole world that election didn’t hold in Kagarko LGA, where I was the candidate of the PDP and the popular choice of the people.

“Of a truth, if election was conducted, I would have won overwhelmingly and congratulated by the people of Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State as I remain their popular choice.

“I want to place it on record that election did not hold in Kagarko and other LGAs in Kaduna state. In fact, election materials arrived late and came without results sheets, so the electorates, who were rightly suspicious of an untoward game, refused to vote.

“There is a saying that you can’t put something on nothing and expect it to stand. In other words, since the election did not hold, there is no way that results would have been announced to declare winners at the ward levels (Councillors) and at the Local Government Headquarters (Chairmen) as mandated in the KAD-SIECOM law, PART VI Section 23 (1) and (2).

“I have viewed documents on the social media purported to be KAD-SIECOM results sheets, apportioning votes to candidates of political parties, when clearly no such results were collated at the polls.

“Therefore, I side with the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State Chapter, in condemning the sham conducted by the Chairman of Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM), Hajia Hajara Mohammed, by claiming that elections took place in all the 255 wards of the state and 23 LGAs, whereas reverse was the case.

“I also call on Governor Uba Sani Gov UBA Sani to critically look at what transpired over the weekend, especially the massive rejection and condemnation of the charade called election and call for the cancellation of the exercise.

“People are supposed to have faith in the governor, so he should not betray the trust of the people, but should do the right thing by calling for a fresh election in order to strengthen democracy in Kaduna state and increase the love, trust and hope people have in him.”

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