The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Atta, alongside the All Progressives Congress (APC), has alleged that residents of Bagwai and Shanono Local Government Areas were forcefully driven away by heavily armed thugs allegedly hired by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) during Saturday’s rerun election.
The minister condemned the reported violence and stated that, given the level of intimidation and attacks, the APC is calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately cancel the results and declare the Bagwai/Shanono election null and void.
Speaking on behalf of APC stakeholders in Kano, Atta recalled that all political parties had earlier signed a peace accord committing to a violence-free election, a commitment he said was clearly violated.
”In this light, all political parties; the All Progressives Congress, APC, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and others agreed not to mobilise thugs.
“Our rally, which was organised on Wednesday, August 13, was held peacefully despite the massive crowd that turned out for it from across the two constituencies; Shanono/Bagwai and Ghari and Tsanyawa.
Adding that the campaign rally, led by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, was judged by all, as one of the freest rallies conducted in recent times in our country.
“However, the following day, under the guise of conducting their rally, the NNPP imported armed thugs from neighbouring states and countries, infiltrated all the wards in Shanono/Bagwai State Constituency to launch coordinated attacks on supporters of the opposition political parties, particularly the APC.”
“The APC candidate for Shanono/Bagwai State Constituency was not spared, as his residence came under attack from these thugs.
The Minister said disturbingly, the deliberate political brigandage by the NNPP reached its crescendo on the election day, despite early alerts to the security agencies and assurances from the Police and the DSS that the situation would be brought under control before the commencement of voting APC.
“As early as 5am yesterday Shanono and Bagwai local government areas was invaded by thousands of armed thugs wielding various dangerous weapons including guns allegedly recruited from within and outside Kano State including Brinin Gwari in Kaduna, Kebbi and Katsina states by the Kano State Government and the ruling party in the state,NNPP. They were conveyed in hundreds of trucks and vehicles.
“When the information reached us, His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Senate, swiftly reported the matter to the relevant security agencies in both Kano and Abuja to get the criminals arrested or chased away to forestall the breakdown of law and order before, during and after the election in the two local government areas and beyond. But, before the security operatives got there, the criminals had infiltrated the villages.”
He added, “Sighting unknown and strange faces in their communities, the residents and voters ran away for safety and relocated to neighbouring villages in Gwarzo and Bichi LGAs. We have just been informed that they have started to return to their homes this afternoon.
Yusuf Atta said as a result of this, the NNPP took over the polling units, hijacked the sensitive ballot materials – ballot papers and results sheets, thumped the ballot papers and allocated votes for their party. No credible election took place in Shanono/Bagwai
“The people of Bagwai/Shanono, who have been patiently waiting for the conduct of the by-election since the demise of their representative, Hon Halilu Ibrahim Kundila on April 6, last year, were disenfranchised, traumatised and chased away from their homes by the NNPP and their thugs imported from neighbouring states and countries.
“We appeal to the people of the constituency and our teaming supporters across the state to remain calm and law-abiding. We urge the security agencies to ensure the prosecution of all the armed thugs who have been arrested in connection with this charade.
The Minister explained that the foundation of any democracy is the right of the people to vote freely and safely for candidates of their choice.
“How can we claim to uphold democracy when citizens are chased away from their homes hours before the election? How can we guarantee the legitimacy of a process overshadowed by threats and chaos? An election marred by violence is no election at all.
”The integrity of our democratic process is paramount. We owe it to ourselves, to future generations and to the principles of democracy, to defend it,” on the APC and NNPP matter.
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