Ahead of Thursday’s by election in Zamfara State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of militarising the election in the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency to muzzle the opposition.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)NationalCommissioner for Information, Sam Olumekun, said the affected polling units had a total of 3,572 registered voters out of which 3,265 permanent voters cards (PVCs) were collected by voters.
According to him, the margin of lead between the two leading candidates was 1,662, adding that based on Section 24(3) and (4) of the Electoral Act 2022, election must be held in the affected polling units to determine a winner.
Addressing a press conference at the PDP National secretariat, National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said, ‘’This is currently playing out in the conduct of the bye-elections in various states of the country with particular reference to that of Kaura Namoda South State Constituency of in Zamfara State.’’
He said available reports revealed that the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency bye-election held on Saturday, August 16, 2025 was marred by massive intimidation, threat and harassment of the voters by APC controlled security agencies.
The PDP spokesman said photographs/video evidence reveal the brutalisation of voters and carting away of ballot boxes by heavily armed security personnel, who boasted that they were acting on orders from above.
He explained that as a result of the induced intimidation and suppression of votes, the election which was overwhelmingly won by the PDP was curiously declared “inconclusive” in five Polling Units.
He named them as Alko/Shiyar Kudu PU, Sakajiki Ward; ShiyarMagaji/Kofar Hamza PU, Kyambarawa Ward; Shiyar Nufawa/ kofar MD Nuhu PU, Sakajiki Ward; Tukasu/Sabuwar Kasuwa PU, KyambarawaWard; and Kofar Fada/Shiyar Fada PU, Kyambarawa Ward.
He claimed this was done with the intent to enable the APC manipulate the electoral process and allocate the victory of the PDP in the election to the APC.
‘’In their desperation to subvert the Will of the people in the re-run election scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, 21st August 2025, the APC in an operation which allegedly has the involvement of a Minister from Zamfara State is currently deploying full battalions of the Army, the Navy, the Airforce, the Mobile Police Force and the Directorate of State Services (DSS) from Abuja and other parts of the country to just five Polling Units in Zamfara State.
‘’The aim of this nefarious deployment is to foist a siege mentality on the people of the Constituency, intimidate, terrorise and prevent them from coming out to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to vote, having realized that the APC has been soundly rejected by the people of Zamfara State.
‘’Intelligence available to our Party reveals that the APC intends to use the security agencies to bully and prevent officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting a free, fair and credible electoral process as well as assist the APC to manipulate and declare a result that is at variance with the expressed Will and Aspiration of the people.
‘’The implication of this ugly development under President Tinubu’swatch is that it constitutes a clear and present danger to democracy, stability and cooperate existence of our country, knowing from history that the Zamfara people are not a conquered people but always standing firm to defend their rights in the face of any aggression.
‘’Our Party invites Nigerians and the International Community to note that the APC’s resort to state-backed intimidation and force in election is a clear signal of the creeping totalitarianism and one-party State which the APC has stated as its cardinal goal in our country. This is a recipe for crisis!
‘’Our Party also calls on Nigerians and the International Community to hold the APC responsible should there be any breakdown of Law and Order in Kaura Namoda South State Constituency or any part of ZamfaraState.
‘’Moreover, the PDP and of course the people of Zamfara State WILL NOT accept any results that is at variance with the expressed Will of the people as evidenced by the already collated results from Kaura NamodaSouth State Constituency.
‘’It is clear and the APC should know that Zamfara State is a PDP State and the people are standing firmly with the PDP and Governor DaudaLawal who has turned around the State with the implementation of life-enhancing infrastructural, human capital and citizen empowerment development programes and will never surrender to the assaults of the APC.”
Chuks Okocha
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