A group of aggrieved stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State have appealed to Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to intervene in the disputed chairmanship primary election held in Kuta Town of the council.
The stakeholders, during a press conference in Minna, claimed the selection process was marred by irregularities, suppression, disregard for agreed terms, and imposition.
At the centre of the controversy is the allegation that Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba used his position to manipulate the process in favour of his preferred candidate, Zaharadeen Babangida Kudodo.
This, according to the aggrieved stakeholders, was outside the consensus arrangement agreed upon by all stakeholders of Shiroro LGA at an earlier meeting.
The stakeholders, led by Yakubu Justice Kuta and Iliyasu Zarumai, revealed that three candidates – Audu Galadima, Salihu Madaki Beri, and Suleiman Dauda Chukuba – were initially selected and endorsed by the consensus subcommittee after it was zoned to the Lakpma axis of Shiroro LGA.
However, in a surprising turn of events, another election was conducted, in which Zaharadeen Babangida Kudodo, the deputy governor’s candidate, was chosen as the consensus candidate.
Angered by the development, they stated, “At an event to present the list of three selected candidates to the entire stakeholders in Kuta town, we were surprised that before our very eyes, another election was conducted by the Deputy Governor, who used security forces to intimidate and put fear into the people. At the end of the process, one Zaharadeen Babangida Kudodo was chosen and announced as the consensus candidate.
“The Deputy Governor held an election in the absence of the three candidates, with support from some key stakeholders, such as Professor Nuhu Tachi, among others. What he did is going to kill the APC in Shiroro, if he fails to abide by the consensus agreement.”
Reacting to their claims, Professor Bashar Nuhu Tachi, a former Commissioner for Tertiary Education and a key stakeholder in Shiroro LG, dismissed the allegations as baseless.
He explained that the three initial candidates were rejected by their own committee that shortlisted their names, and the stakeholders decided to allow all screened and cleared candidates to contest the primary.
According to him, “We agreed to allow the Lakpma axis to produce three chairmanship candidates for consideration, even though we have no right to stop anyone from the council from participating.
“A committee comprising 13 members from the Lakpma axis went to get three names. On the day of the presentation of those names, 10 members of the committee rejected the report and said they were not part of the process.”
“Then the entire stakeholders in Shiroro decided to allow everyone who was screened and cleared by the party to contest the primary, and the winner, Zaharadeen Kudodo, came from the Lakpma area, where the seat was zoned.”
Professor Tachi commended the deputy governor for his leadership and neutrality during the process, stating that he ensured everyone was included and given a chance to participate.
He also called on party members to close ranks and support the party’s chairmanship flagbearer.
However, the aggrieved stakeholders maintained that the process was flawed and called on Governor Bago to intervene and ensure justice is done.
They warned that if the issue is not addressed, it could jeopardise the party’s success in the forthcoming LG polls, as well as subsequent elections in the council.
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