Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has addressed the crisis in Zamfara State during the conduct of the party’s direct primary elections.
DAILY POST reported that Prof. Abubakar Faki-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Zamfara Governorship Primaries Committee on Thursday cancelled the primaries held in the state.
According to him, the process was marred by violence, election malpractices, including snatching of election materials and result sheets by state government officials.
Oshiomhole speaking on the Zamfara botched election, said that reports available to the party’s leadership suggested that the process was botched and materials snatched.
He stated this on Thursday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen after a closed-door meeting with governors on the party’s platform.
He also said that the results of the primaries were taken to unauthorised places.
“The panel we sent there has come to explain in unison what transpired. It is unfortunate that many people choose to opt for violence.
“But I am happy that the panel refused to compromise and stood their ground, even in the face of intimidation.
“We are going to conduct free, fair primary in Zamfara. This process has to be done according to the rules and regulations of the APC,” he said.
The chairman insisted that the primaries would be done by the electoral body and not by the State Government or agents.
Oshiomhole, however, added that every member of the party in Zamfara had a right to vote for any aspirant of their choice.
“No amount of blackmail will make us to abandon that. That is the right thing to do, my mandate as chairman of the APC is to be faithful to our Constitution.
“I swore to an oath of office to be just to every member of the APC, for me, this oath of office is meant to be obeyed.
“A fresh committee would be set up to conduct the Zamfara primaries,saying that any election that was not conducted in accordance with the guideline would not be accepted.
“When we say direct primary, we mean direct primary,” Oshiomhole stressed.
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