The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said it has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Gusau, to challenge the illegality of the Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC), over allegations that it contravened the law by not issuing the three-month notice to political parties regarding the conduct of the local council poll; instead, it gave thirty days.
The State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yusuf Idris disclosed this while briefing Journalists in Gusau, the State capital, after a meeting of the State Working Committee, over what it called a “serious injustice” on the part of the PDP, to deny the people their constitutional rights to participate in the local governments poll to elect local council chairmen and councillors.
He argued that the 30 days would not be sufficient for political parties to sell the expression of interest and nomination forms, screen aspirants, conduct party primaries, entertain appeals or complaints and organise and carry out campaigns to canvass votes from the electorate.
“The state government which swore in the commission’s chairman, Bala Aliyu Gusau on the 14/10/2024, the chairman immediately after taking the oath of office and oath of allegiance announced a date for the local government election without even reporting to the office”
“He announced a date as directed by governor Dauda Lawal to organize the council polls in such a way to hold on 16/11/2024 within 30 days from the date he was sworn- in without recourse to the constitutional provision that political parties should be given three months election notice to enable them sales party expression of interest and nominations forms, screen candidates, conduct party primaries, attend to appeals on complaints, organize/carryout campaigns and prepare for the election which is not possible to execute within the announced unconstitutional time frame of just one month, given by the state government”
Idris described the action as an attempt by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to deny candidates of other political parties their rights to participate in the local Government election in Zamfara State.
The APC then revealed that it has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Gusau, to challenge the illegality of the ZASIEC, and ensure the right thing is done for the interest of all people of the State.
“Already, we have filed our case at a Federal High Court, Gusau, to seek redress over this clear injustice with the strong belief that the right thing will ultimately be done.”
It alleged that the PDP was poised to subvert democracy and the will of the people by appointing certain persons to lead the local governments.
Meanwhile, the opposition All Progressives Congress APC has welcomed into its folk the member of the House of Representatives representing Bukkuyum/Gummi constituency in the National Assembly, Suleiman Abubakar Gummi who recently defected from the ruling PDP to the APC.
“Let me also, on behalf of our great party, warmly welcome the member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Engineer Suleiman Abubakar Gummi to the APC having decamped from the PDP which he formally announced before the Honourable Speaker of House of Representatives and other Honourable members during plenary on Wednesday, at the National Assembly.”
“We want to assure the Honourable member along with his teeming supporters that they will be accorded all the rights and privileges like any other member as the APC is honoured to have him come with his wealth of experience and overwhelming supporters to further boost the good image of the party.”
The party said it would organise a reception where they would receive him in Gummi and assured him that it would give him and his supporters all the rights which members of the APC are enjoying in the party.
