The Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Zamfara State has
reacted to the withdrawal of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
from the rerun bye-election for the Bakura State House of Assembly
seat.
In a statement on Tuesday, the PDP chairman in the state, Tukur
Danfulani, said the party received the news of the APC’s withdrawal
with little or no surprise.
He stated that the ruling party in Zamara was delighted that the
opposition did not accuse the PDP of any wrongdoing in the
expression of good sportsmanship in politics.
“We still want to re-echo our earlier call, especially on the
security agents to ensure the protection of the people’s lives and
property, before, during, and after the election and not to allow
miscreants distort it,” Danfulani noted.
He alleged, “It is one thing to back out from an election in
fear of near-certain defeat and another to leave the thugs that
were used in the first leg of the election to come more venomous
since they have nothing to lose.”
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According to the PDP chairman, the APC raised some of the same
critical issues identified by his party, such as intimidation of
voters, ballot box snatching, and the use of security operatives to
perpetuate riggings in the election.
He explained that this led to the declaration of the earlier
exercise inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC).
Danfulani stressed that since it was the exclusive reserve of
the opposition party to participate or refuse to participate in the
election, the PDP would join other participating political parties
to wish the APC well.
He gave an assurance that as the ruling party in Zamfara, the
government would continue to provide a level playing ground for all
political parties and people of the state.