Tunde Bolaji – Minna
There is a strong indication that all is not well in the house of the ring All Progressive Party ( APC) in Niger state.
This came to fore as delegates and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency in the State have faulted the actions of the state Party Chairman, Hon. Haliru Jikantoro after he directed that a fresh elections be held in Minna.
It should be recalled that the Primaries which held in Kontagora on the 28th May was to hold was to hold on Friday 27th in Rijau. But after delegates were attacked by thugs and bandits, the electoral committee rescheduled the elections.
The result of the election which was peacefully held in the presence of the three aspirants’ agents who signed the result was signed and announced by the Chairman Primary Election Committee, Dr. Danjuma Binni Beji and the secretary Dr. Garba Salihu.
After the elections, Dr. Mahmuda Mamman polled 103 votes out of 103 of the 103 accredited voters.
The other two aspirants who both scored zero votes are the incumbent House of Representatives member, Hon. Shehu Sale and Bashir Ahmed.
Faulting the latest development from the state party Chairman, the Chairman of APC, Magama local government, Abukakar Usman (aka Bafa) said, “there was no appeal or protests from any aspirants or members in the constituency.
“The primary elections went on, the result was announced and everyone of us have gone back to our various homes. After we heard of the latest development, we called the Appeal committee and they said they did not receive a y appeal or protests. So, why is the state party Chairman trying to cause unnecessary problems?
He added that, “the agents of the aspirants signed the result after the electoral committee announced it in the presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies and even the Media.”
Efforts to get the state Party Chairman Hon. Haliru Jikantoro proved abortive as he kept rejecting calls put to him. However, a test message reading “Chairman sir, I have been calling you on phone but you have been busying my call. Please can you respond to allegations that you rescheduled Magama/Rijau federal Constituency primary elections and to take place today Tuesday 31st May, 2022 in Minna?
The Chairman, Appeal committee, Umar Marado confirmed that elections held and that no appeal or protest was received from Magama/ Rijau federal Constituency.
Two of the delegates, Yohanna Musa and Aliyu Abdullahi Jatau told Journalists that “if the rescheduled elections must take place, then it has to be in Kontagora and not Minna. Kontagora is safe and closer to all the delegates.
“We have concluded our primary elections, the aspirants are okay with the results but the state party Chairman and some persons who don’t mean well for the party want to cause problems. We will not succumb to their game plan”.
