Zamfara guber: INEC asked to delist PDP candidate

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State.

In a statement issued by Salihu Moh. Lukman, APC National Vice Chairman (North-West), the ruling party, hinged its request on the recent court judgment.

The appeal from the ruling party read: “With this judgement, as it stands now, PDP has no candidate for the March 11, 2023 governorship election in Zamfara State. The order of the Federal High Court, Gusau, presided by Honourable Justice Aminu B Aliyu, is that the PDP should conduct a valid primary election under the supervision of INEC for enlistment as PDP’s candidate for 2023 general election.

“INEC should therefore immediately delete the PDP and its claimed candidate for Zamfara State March 11, 2023 governorship election from the list of candidates.

“PDP and any considered candidate for the party for 2023 governorship election should only be enlisted if provisions of the PDP 2017 Constitution as amended and provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 are met as directed by Honourable Justice Aminu B Aliyu.”

Explaining the details of what transpired, the APC, in the statement, wrote: “On Friday, September 16, 2022, Honourable Justice Aminu B Aliyu of Federal High Court, Gusau, delivered judgement on a matter brought before him by Dr Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, Aliyu Hafiz Muhammad and Mallam Wadatau Madawaki as plaintiffs against five defendants, namely, PDP, Adamu Maina Waziri (Chairman, Zamfara State Governorship Primary Election of the PDP, Col Bala Mande (retd) (Chairman, Zamfara State Chapter of the PDP, Dr Dauda Lawal Dare, and INEC.

“Having listened to submissions and evidence by both the Plaintiffs and Defendants, Honourable Justice Aminu B Aliyu gave the following orders:

“A declaration that the PDP governorship primary election in Zamfara State claimed to have been held on May 25, 2022 was conducted in flagrant violation of Section 50(2) (b) & (3) of the Constitution of the PDP 2017 (as amended).

“A declaration that the importation of staunch members of the opposition party into the PDP’s list of delegates and the consequent failure to validly conduct accreditation of delegates and announcement of the total number of delegates accredited to vote at the PDP’s governorship primary election in Zamfara State on May 25, 2022 is a substantial irregularity and same is offensive to part V8(c) (d) (e) & (6) of the PDP Electoral Guidelines for conduct of Primary Election,” the statement read.

“An order of injunction restraining the PDP from submitting the name of Dr Dauda Lawal Dare to be the PDP’s flag bearer for the governorship election in Zamfara State unless a valid Primary Election is conducted in compliance with the 2017 Constitution and Electoral Guidelines of the PDP.

“An order directing the PDP to conduct a valid primary election for governorship position in Zamfara State under the full supervision of INEC for enlistment as the PDP’s candidate for 2023 general election in Nigeria.