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Campaign spokesman raises concern
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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Publicity Secretary of the Sani Abdulkadir Dakace Campaign Organisation, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani, has expressed concern over the delay in the distribution of election materials for the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Speaking during a press conference on Friday at the APC Kaduna State Secretariat, Danfulani described the situation as “serious and unacceptable”, alleging that party officials were absent despite the scheduled commencement of the exercise.
According to him, representatives of the campaign organisation arrived at the venue as early as 6:00 a.m. to receive election materials but were left waiting without any official response from party authorities.
“Our representatives, duly mandated to receive primary election materials at the state headquarters of our great party, have been on the ground since the early hours of 6:00am,” he said.
“Regrettably, no party officials are present to supervise or distribute these materials.”
Danfulani further claimed that thousands of APC members and supporters had already gathered across polling units and wards in Igabi Local Government Area in anticipation of the direct primary election.
“Meanwhile, thousands of registered APC members and voters are gathered at the designated venue for the primary election in every ward, waiting in vain for election officials to arrive,” he stated.
“The polling units and wards are prepared, but the machinery of democracy is stalled.”
He noted that the APC guidelines for the primary election clearly stipulate a direct primary process at the ward level, where all registered party members are expected to vote for their preferred aspirants.
“Every card-carrying member is entitled to vote for their preferred aspirant,” Danfulani said, adding that candidates were also permitted to deploy agents to monitor the process.
The campaign spokesman maintained that the Dakace campaign had complied with all laid-down procedures and expressed concern that the absence of election materials and officials could undermine the integrity of the exercise.
“We have followed these rules meticulously. We have deployed our agents. Our supporters are ready,” he said.
“Yet, the absence of party officials and election materials at this critical hour raises serious concerns about the integrity and fairness of this process.”
Danfulani warned that injustice during party primaries could weaken internal democracy and create divisions within the party.
“A primary election is not merely an administrative exercise; it is the bedrock of internal democracy,” he stated.
“When members believe their votes do not count, they lose faith in the party and the electoral system.”
He also cautioned that any candidate produced through what he described as a flawed process would face legitimacy challenges.
“A candidate who emerges through a flawed or rigged primary carries a permanent stain of illegitimacy,” he added.
The campaign organisation called on the APC national leadership to urgently intervene by releasing election materials and deploying credible officials to supervise the exercise.
“We demand that primary election materials be released forthwith and that credible election officials be deployed without further delay,” Danfulani said.
He also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which he said was present in an observer capacity, to take note of the situation and ensure compliance with the party’s guidelines.
Danfulani reaffirmed the commitment of Hon. ESV Sani Abdulkadir Dakace and his supporters to a transparent and credible primary process.
“We will not accept any outcome that is born from injustice,” he declared.
