The All Progressives Congress, (APC), has demanded the immediate cancellation of the ongoing by-elections in Shanono/Ɓagwai Constituency and the rerun election in Ghari Constituency of Kano State.
APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to halt the exercise without delay.
He alleged that the elections were marred by “widespread extreme violence and disruption by armed thugs” across several polling units in both Shanono, Ɓagwai and Ghari constituencies.
He said: “Verifiable reports from Shanono and Ɓagwai local government areas and Ghari constituency have voters fleeing polling areas, with deployed security personnel overwhelmed by the violence, making the prospects of a credible election impossible.
“Proceeding with the Shanono/Ɓagwai Kano State Constituency bye-election and Ghari rerun election in the atmosphere of utter brigandage and outright violent voter intimidation will be against democratic dictates of free, fair and peaceful election, and set a dangerous precedent for undesirable and unacceptable electoral heist”.
Recall that the Nigeria Police earlier yesterday announced the arrest of 288 thugs linked with several politicians with dangerous weapons in the ongoing elections.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, who disclosed this development in a telephone interview, said: “As at 1p.m today (Saturday), 288 thugs were apprehended with dangerous weapons in the local government areas where the bye-election is going”.
According to him, the suspects were arrested for allegedly attempting to disrupt the bye-election.
He said the hoodlums were apprehended alongside their sponsors with dangerous weapons, including one pump-action gun, four locally made guns, cutlasses and sticks, among others.
