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From Abel Leonard, Lafia
Former Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, Mohammad Sani Haruna, has described the party’s gubernatorial primary election as a “sham”, alleging widespread irregularities, intimidation and disenfranchisement of party members during the exercise.
Addressing journalists at a press conference on Sunday after the primary election, Haruna said the process fell short of democratic standards and called on the national leadership of the APC to cancel the exercise and conduct a fresh primary in the state.
According to him, the exercise was characterised by the deployment of electoral officials allegedly sympathetic to what he described as the “government-anointed aspirant”.
“Anyone who believes in accountability before God Almighty and has a conscience should reject this result. The primary election was a sham and sheer allocation of figures in 80 per cent of the wards in the state,” he said.
Haruna further alleged that electoral materials and officials failed to arrive in several wards and polling units across the state, thereby preventing many party members from participating in the process.
“For instance, electoral officials and materials never arrived at my electoral ward, therefore denying me an opportunity to vote,” he stated.
The former aspirant said many party members reportedly waited from morning till late at night for electoral officials and materials that never arrived.
He also alleged incidents of intimidation, harassment and disruption during the exercise, saying such actions created fear and confusion among party members.
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“Members were brazenly denied the opportunity to exercise their constitutional responsibility. Might was on display in utter contempt of party members. It was all a charade,” Haruna declared.
He maintained that his position was based on reports gathered from agents, coordinators, stakeholders and supporters across the state, including videos, photographs and testimonies allegedly documenting the irregularities.
Haruna urged the APC National Secretariat to intervene by reviewing the exercise and organising another primary election in the interest of justice and internal democracy.
“I wholeheartedly urge the National Secretariat of APC to review the primary election and conduct a fresh one in Nasarawa State. We have to live up to our reputation as a truly progressive and democratic party,” he said.
Despite his grievances, Haruna appealed to his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, insisting that politics should not lead to violence or division among the people.
“At this critical moment, I urge all our supporters and well-wishers across Nasarawa State to remain calm, peaceful, law-abiding and steadfast to allow this injustice to be corrected,” he said.
The former aspirant, however, insisted that his political ambition remained alive, noting that consultations were ongoing with supporters, stakeholders, youth groups, women’s groups and community leaders across the state to determine the next line of action.
“This journey has never been about personal ambition; it has always been about service, development, inclusiveness and creating better opportunities for the people of our dear state,” he added.
Haruna assured supporters that his camp would communicate its next political direction after the consultations.
