Saidu Alkali, former minister of transportation, has withdrawn from the Gombe state governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to alleged irregularities and violations of electoral laws.
Alkali decision followed the withdrawal of Isa Pantami,
former minister of communication and digital economy on Tuesday.
In a statement on Wednesday by Umar Jibrin, his media aide,
Alkali said he would boycott the primary scheduled for Thursday due to a loss
of confidence in the process’s credibility.
Alkali noted that the recent incidents during the APC house
of representatives and senate primaries forced him to withdraw from the race,
despite fulfilling the requirements to contest, including purchasing nomination
forms and passing the party’s screening process.
He alleged that the primaries in Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye,
Billiri/Balanga federal constituencies, and Gombe central senatorial district
were marred by manipulation and lacked transparency.
The former minister of transportation claimed that the
exercises did not portray democratic standards and failed to comply with
provisions of the Electoral Act guiding direct primaries.
“The results were allegedly manufactured without the conduct
of any genuine election process,” the statement reads.
Alkali alleged that the primaries were marred by the absence
of electoral materials, inadequate logistics, and denial of equal opportunities
to contestants.
He noted that the result of the exercises had created
distrust among party members and weakened public confidence in the internal
democratic process of the party in the state.
The former minister noted that his participation in the
forthcoming governorship primary under such circumstances would amount to
endorsing a “flawed process”.
Alkali, however, noted that he remained loyal to the APC,
pledging his continued support for the party.
He pleaded to the national leadership of the party to cancel
the disputed primaries and constitute a fresh committee to conduct a credible,
fair, and transparent elections in line with the constitution, Electoral Act,
and party guidelines.
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