By Ahmed Attahir Gusau
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and ten other political parties in Zamfara state have expressed readiness to participate in tomorrow’s (Wednesday) rescheduled re-run bye election for Bakura constituency.
APGA also condemned the conduct of last Saturday bye election, alleging that INEC returning officer, Professor Ibrahim Magawata and hired thugs marred the Bakura constituency election.
A former National Secretary of APGA, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi made this known on Tuesday at a press conference in Gusau.
Shinkafi said APGA have no confidence on the returning officer, Professor Ibrahim Magawata for the re-run bye election.
“The INEC returning officer need to apologise to political parties for his statement in favour of All Progressive Congress (APC) when voting in some polling units were cancelled”.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to review the posting of about 10 election officers drawn from the Federal University Gusau, including the returning officer Professor Magawata.
According to the former APGA scribe, the last Saturday bye election was characterized by irregularities, insecurity and chaos, stressing that security arrangements needs to be strategize for safety, acceptable and credible re-run bye election.
He alleged that All Progressive Congress, APC brought in military personnel from Zuru, who scarred voters during the last Saturday bye election, adding that other parties would not accept a repeat on Wednesday.
Shinkafi therefore called on the state police commissioner to investigate what he called unguided statement by some APC chieftains during the stakeholders meeting with INEC in the state.
