The Zamfara Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prove its allegations of harassment of voters against the party and the security agencies at Saturday’s by-election in Kaura Namoda South.
The State APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, stated this at a news briefing in Gusau on Monday.
Freedomonline reports that the state PDP Chairman, Dr Jamilu Magayaki had another press briefing in Gusau accused the APC and the security agencies for intimidating and harassing PDP members during the by-election.
Magayaki further alleged that the APC had deployed the military to intimidate voters during the by-election.
Idris said all the allegations against the party and the security agencies were baseless and untrue.
“It is very surprising that the PDP made such unfounded claims because of their failure of loosing the election.
“Prove your claims to the appropriate authorities, report all your allegations to INEC,or the Tribunal of this election.
“What we expect from them are evidences to prove their claims just as we have in our possession, videos and still pictures,” Idris said
He urged the state PDP leadership to present their allegations before the relevant authorities instead of issuing emotional statements to mislead the public.
He called on the state PDP chairman to avoid involving issue of insecurity into political issues.
“This is very unfortunate for a political party to create lies and propaganda to divert the attention of the members of the public.
“I think our security personnel were stationed at the polling units to prevent violence and all kinds of election malpractices such as ballot snatching and destruction of election materials.
“The claim that the Army was inside polling centres lacks proof and is a deliberate distortion of reality,” he added.
Idris further said that the claims by the PDP and the attempt to drag the Nigerian military into partisan politics were reckless and dangerous.
He stated that the Zamfara PDP chapter was making a desperate attempt to cover up its defeat in the Kaura Namoda South by-election instead of accepting the will of the people.
Idris said,”The PDP leaders exposed their inability to accept defeat and are now looking for excuses having been defeated at the poll.”
He commended the voters for coming out en masse and exercised their constitutional rights.
Idris assured that the APC and its members would continue to be law-abiding.
