By; DAHIRU SULEIMAN, Dutse
Voters of different political affiliations in Jigawa State have expressed grievances and kicked against midnight voting pattern of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State, describing it as a foul ploy and monopolistic tendency of rigging, aimed at creating rigorous manipulation to attain victory at all cost during the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
“What kind of maneuvering is it by holding elections at midnight, if not of cheating, greed, and selfish interests, which is unacceptable, and we will stand to challenge this dubious tendency in all its ramifications,” the party’s averred.
The spokesman of the voters, Mal Isa Zai of the PDP while briefing the press in Dutse, said, “we will not condone this myopic monopoly of the ruling APC in coming up with a new strategy of rigging and manipulation to be observed during the forthcoming 2023 general elections as such ill- motivated pattern is against the constitution of the land as well as the new amended electoral laws.”
Asked on the steps to be taken in arresting the situation, Zai affirmed that, “we have resolved to draw the attention of INEC, and other relevant agencies in Jigawa State such as security, among other stakeholders, through a written petition which will soon be despatched without further delay, for their information and necessary actions”.
The action of the electorate is coming at a time when the ruling APC held its gubernatorial and state assembly primaries at midnight of on Thursday, starting from 12.30am to 2am and announced the emergence of the state’s Deputy Governor, Alh Umar Namadi who polled over 1,000 votes as the party’s flagbearer for 2023 gubernatorial elections, as well the list of state assembly members who won for re-election and new members to the state House of Assembly.
This challenged scenario didn’t stop there, as the APC maintained same pattern for Senate and House of Representatives primaries at midnight on Friday, where primaries congresses for both Senate and House of Representatives was observed at midnight, starting from 2.00am to 4:30am and results were announced by the Jigawa State Chairman of the APC, Hon. Sani Aminu Gumel at the party’s secretariat in Dutse.
Below is the full list of candidates that emerged:
1. Hon Makki Abubakar Elleman
Malam Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency
2. Engr. Magaji Da’u Aliyu
Buji/Birnin kudu Federal Constituency
3. Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi Kemba
Dutse/Kiyawa Federal Constituency
4. Hon. Yusuf sa’idu miga
Jahun/Miga Federal Constituency
5. Hon. Abubakar Hassan fulata
Birniwa/Guri/ Kiri – Kasamma Federal Constituency
6. Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency- Inconclusive
7. Hon. Isah Idris gwaram
Gwaram Federal Constituency
8. Hon. Sa’ad wada Taura
Ringim/Taura Federal Constituency
9. Hon. Aminu Kanta Babura
Babura/ Garki Federal Constituency
10. Hon. nazifi Sani
Gumel/ Maigatari/Gagarawa/Sule Tankarkar Federal Constituency
11. Hon. Muktar Muhammed Zanna
Kazaure/Yankwashi/Gwiwa/Roni Federal Constituency.
In a related development, popular Nigerian lawmaker, Muhammad Gudaji, on Saturday, failed to secure the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) ticket to contest the House of Representative seat for Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi Federal Constituency, in Jigawa State.
Mr Gudaji is having a running battle with the state’s governor, Muhammad Badaru as well as local chapter of his party, the All Progressives Congress.
He was defeated by Mukhtar Zanna, a local government chairperson for Kazaure Council Area.
Mr Zanna got 89 votes, his closest rival Muhammad Zakari got 70 votes, while the incumbent Mr Gudaji got 26 votes.
Also, Muhammad Alhassan, a retired army officer and former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, got eight votes.
Abdullahi Mainasara scored seven votes in the election for the Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/ Yankwashi federal constituency.
Another popular aspirant who emerged victorious is Magaji Da’u-Aliyu, a serving member representing Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency.
Mr Da’u Aliyu is believed to be at loggerheads with the governor but against all odds, polled 87 votes to floor his closest rival, Nasidi Ali who got 13 votes.
The election for Hadejia, Auyo, Kafin-Hausa Federal Constituency was declared inconclusive.
