Zamfara, Plateau APC groups flay planned imposition of candidates

The All Progressives Congress Youth Solidarity Network (APC-YSN) has cried out over alleged moves by chieftains of the party in Zamfara State to impose unpopular candidates on the party.

In a petition made available to The Guardian, the group claimed that delegates to the party primaries had already been handpicked by those hell-bent on imposing candidates against the wishes of the people.

The petition signed by Mallam Suleiman Musa of the Guardian of Democracy and Development Initiative (GoDDI) argued that the machination contravened Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 on Nomination of Candidates by Parties.

The group called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Security Adviser (NSA), Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), APC and the international community to wade into the issue.

It noted: “There are incontrovertible evidence that the Electoral Act 2022, APC Constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are being abused to muscle out other aspirants and pave way for anointed candidates, as if we are practicing monarchial system of government as opposed to democracy.

“We have established, beyond reasonable doubts, that delegates to party primaries have already been handpicked by those hell-bent on imposing candidates against the collective will of Zamfara citizens, in clear violation of extant laws governing conduct of party primaries.”

SIMILARLY, Plateau APC Elders Advisory Council has frowned on the planned imposition of candidates on the party, contrary to the tenets of democracy all over the world.

The council stressed that the position had been agitating the people of the state, thereby heating up the polity unnecessarily.

In a statement, yesterday, the Acting Chairman, Danladi Wuyep, noted that APC had already come out with guidelines on how its members would conduct themselves in the forthcoming primaries.

It advised, therefore, that those that paid for various forms be treated fairly and be given a level-playing ground to participate, especially where there is more than one person contesting a particular political seat.

“Where a consensus has been adopted, all the contestants must consent to same by affixing their signatures on a document, which shall serve as evidence of accepting the outcome of such consensus.

“There should be no imposition of a candidate on the people. Rather, personal interest should be buried to allow the general welfare of Plateau people to excel.

“It is also strongly advised that the government and the party leadership should ensure and create a level-playing ground for fair participation of all aspirants, including the election of delegates at all levels, which should reflect true democracy, as bad history should not be allowed to repeat on the Plateau,” the elders contended.

They stated, unequivocally, their interest in a fair deal for every aspirant, a peaceful conduct of the elections and victory at the polls.