Says election was marred with irregularities
Aminu Imam
Barely a few hours after the announcement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) results in Kaduna, where Senator Uba Sani was declared the winner of the primary election, one of the frontline aspirants of the party, Hon. Sani Mohammed Shaaban, has rejected the results of the election.
Shaaban, who, according to the results scored 10 votes, alleged that the election was a charade, which was marred with irregularities.
Speaking with newsmen on the election the aspirant, who is a former House of Representatives member from Zaria constituency,
also alleged that the election was not only a charade but described as very unfortunate that a ruling party would resort to bringing all sorts of people as delegates.
According to him, “The delegates from the 23 local government areas were locked out of the Umaru Musa YarAdua Hall voting centre in Murtala Square, Kaduna, while people were picked from the streets of Kaduna to vote during the primary.
He also alleged that no fewer than five different delegates lists were produced for the election between Wednesday night and Thursday night.
Shaaban, who said he has already petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the APC national headquarters about the sham in Kaduna, told newsmen that he is bidding his time to make his decision, adding that soon he would come out with his decision.
His words: I am a cleared candidate for the office of the governorship of Kaduna State. I went through all the processes, paid N50 million to buy the form, went through the guidelines, and went to 300 nominees across the State that filled the form to nominate me. What happened on the day of the primary election (Thursday), is a charade. No delegate congress was carried out in Kaduna; nothing.
He further said, The APC in Kaduna is behaving as if it is the only Party as if there are no other parties in the State. Many of our members across the 23 local government areas were asked to pay N5,000 to buy delegates forms; they filled out the forms and submitted them, but they were denied last night.
We cannot be laying ambush or booby-traps for ourselves. What happened to those who collected the form from the APC secretariat in Kaduna and their names were sent to the APC secretariat in the local governments, but they were denied access to those who were there to vote for a particular candidate.
Its like we are burying APC while the party is still alive”, adding that “it is the people that enjoyed APC for seven years that are now burying APC alive.
From Wednesday to Thursday, there were five different delegates lists. I wont accept any result that is produced through illegality; we dont know who is going to choose us. We are yet to hear from INEC”.
He said he’s going to come up with the best and most candid solution, adding: “Im not desperate to be governor of Kaduna State but I am desperate to serve the people of the State.
