By: John Bassey, Zamfara.
The Zamfara state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Nigerian military of aiding the opposition party, the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the just concluded Kaura Namoda South bye-election, declared inconclusive by the state Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
It could be recalled that the Zamfara state INEC Commissioner, Honourable Mahmud Isah, has declared the just concluded bye-election inconclusive due to certain irregularities, and PDP Chairman Dr. Jibo Magaki Jamilu on Sunday accused the military of aiding APC in an attempt to manipulate the bye-election results.
He made this known while addressing journalists on the party’s stance at the Kaura Namoda South state constituency bye-election in his office at Samaru Area of Gusau the state capital.
Speaking, the state Chairman said, we are addressing the press today with a heavy heart and deep concern over the unfortunate and shameful act that took place on the August 16th bye-election exercise at Kaura Namoda South state constituency.
What should have been a peaceful and democratic exercise was tragically turned into intimidation, violence, and outright election fraud orchestrated by the state opposition party, All Progressive Congress, APC, with the active compliance of the Nigerian military.
Instead of providing adequate security and a peaceful working environment, heavily armed military personnel were present at the polling units, not to provide security for the electorates but to harass, intimidate, and brutalize the innocent civilian voters.
PDP agents in all the wards were beaten up, chased out, and denied access to the polling units and coalition centers.
At Sakajiki Ward, there was no election at all; ballot boxes, papers, and other sensitive materials were hijacked, and results were fabricated by the APC in conjunction with their related partners in the absence of PDP agents in all six wards that participated in the bye-election exercise.
Let us be clear here that, the electoral act and INEC guidelines stipulated that military personnel must maintain at least a 50-meter distance from polling units, but in clear violation of the law, soldiers were seen stationed directly inside voting centers and polling units escorting ballot boxes and aiding the manipulation of results
The act of the military poses suspicion and certain rhetorical questions, such as why the military, which is quick to involve itself in the electoral process, remains unwilling to provide security and necessary protection to our communities from daily bandit attacks.
Federal might has been deployed, not against bandits and criminal elements but against the innocent civilian voters and against the smooth democratic presence in Zamfara state.
More disturbing was a proven intelligence that certain bandits were used to intimidate voters in some parts of Kaura Namoda South state constituency, saying “if any voter raises a vote for PDP, such a one would not return home alive”.
These barbaric and desperate tactics are a new law promulgated under the APC standard and would not be accepted by our society.
The People Democratic Party strongly condemned and unequivocally disapproved of this unconstitutional and unethical demonstration of impunity by the APC.
If this inhumane act and dangerous threat is allowed to continue, it would totally undermine the foundation of democracy in Zamfara in particular and Nigeria in general.
Despite the climate of fear and intimidation, the Zamfara state PDP is proud of the resilience and the courage displayed by its supporters and the good people of Kaura Namoda South who take their stance with PDP and Governor Dauda Lawal.
Their voices, though suppressed, sent a clear message that APC provided no useful support for the people of Zamfara state and Nigeria at large.
We urge all PDP loyalists and supporters to remain calm and law-abiding as we employ all legal and constitutional means to challenge and expose this broad daylight robbery of the people’s mandate.
PDP remains strong, United, and resolute. Justice will prevail and democracy over tyranny.
