APC alleges PDP planning to manipulate local government elections in Zamfara

By IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau

The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has uncovered a grand plan by the Zamfara State government using its tool, the state’s Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC) to manipulate the local government councils elections scheduled later in the year.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Malan Yusuf Idris Gusau, gave the hint at a press briefing held at the APC headquarters, Bypass Road Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, on Thursday.

According to him, the state government is using a PDP card carrying member as the Commission’s Chairman to perfect injustice and injure other political parties and the citizens by denying other political parties’ candidates satisfactory participation in the electoral process, an attutude it said is in total violation of the Electoral Act.

Continuing, the state government swore-in the Commission’s Chairman, Bala Aliyu Gusau, on October 14, 2024 and the chairman, immediately after taking oath of office and oath of allegiance, announced a date for the local government election without even reporting to the office for him to assess his office responsibilities and schedules,the APC revealed.

Instead, it said, he abruptly announced a date as directed by Governor Dauda Lawal to organize the council polls in such a way to hold on November 16, 2024.

Malan Yusuf Gusau said, “within 30 days from the date he was sworn- in without recourse to the constitutional provision that political parties should be given three months election notice to enable them sales party expression of interest and nominations forms, secreen candidates, conduct party primaries, attend to appeals on complaints, organize/carryout campaigns and prepare for the election which is not possible to execute within the announced unconstitutional time frame of just one month, given by the state government.

“However, the ZASIEC is still yet to dispatch any notice of election to our party as required by the electoral laws nor has it provided us with election guidelines and the election schedules which is a gross abuse of local government electoral laws which they reviewed and passed same day by the Zamfara state House of Assembly and assented to by the governor the following day.

“While the PDP may have already decided on who they want to impose on the people, the APC, in its fairness, intends to allow the people to decide on who they want as their chairmen and councillors.

“Already, we have filed our case at a Federal High Court, Gusau, to seek redress over this clear injustice with the strong belief that the right thing will ultimately be done.

“We are appealing to our teeming supporters and members who have already indicated interest to vie for various elective positions of Chairman or councillor to exercise patience as the party leadership in consultation with critical stakeholders will do all that is necessary to ensure justice is done to members by the ZASIEC.

“Let me also, on behalf of the state chairman of our great party, Hon. Tukur Umar Danfulani warmly welcome the member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Engineer Suleiman Abubakar Gummi to the APC having decamped from the PDP which he formally announced before the Honourable Speaker of House of Representatives and other Honourable membes during plenary yesterday, Wednesday, at the National Assembly.

“We want to assure the Honourable member along with his teeming supporters that they will be accorded all the rights and preveleges like any other member as the APC is honoured to have him come with his wealth of experience and an overwhelming supporters to further boost the good image of the party.

“The APC, which has remained the party to beat, has always been guided by its constitution and the rule of law where members are law abiding and responsibly respectful to leaders and to one another.

“A date will soon be set when the party leadership in the state will go to Gummi to formally welcome the Honourable member and his followers into the APC. He concluded.