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Ahead of Saturday August 16 by-election in the state, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and the Social Democratic Party, SDP, have raised an alarm over alleged plan by the All Progressive Congress APC government to sabotage the bye-elections and distort the electoral process in Kaduna State.
In a statement jointly signed by Jafaru Ibrahim Sani – ADC National Vice Chairman, North-West Elder Patrick Ambut, ADC Kaduna State Chairman, Nasiru Maikano, SDP Kaduna State Chairman and pasted on former Governor Elrufai’s verified Facebook page on Wednesday, alleged that the APC led government has recruited about 4,000 thugs from within and outside the state to intimidate and harass citizens and officials of opposition parties at all polling units and at the Ward, State Constituency and Federal Constituency Collation Centres during the election
According to the statement, the Kaduna State government is engaged in efforts to compromise INEC officials, alleging that the state government allocates plots of land to senior INEC officials, electoral officers and technical support staff.
“In furtherance of their election sabotage cause, we have details of the Kaduna State Government officials that have had secret meetings with high-level election personnel and other technical staff deployed from INEC Headquarters,” it said.
According to the statement, “the Kaduna State Government compelled the 23 local governments to contribute N30 million each to its election sabotage fund for the bye-elections in the bye-elections in Chikun/Kajuru/ federal constituency and state constituencies in Zaria and Sabon Gari.
“Further financial support from Abuja of about N4.8 billion has been provided to facilitate the sabotage of the elections through vote-buying, compromise of electoral officials, and corruption of security agents to encourage breakdown of law and order.
It alleged that the assaults on election integrity and the fundamental rights of citizens to choose their legislators are being coordinated at the highest levels of the state government, with a serving Commissioner in charge of local government matters, leading the officials deployed for dishonorable operation.
” The ADC-SDP coalition is also aware that the senior officials of Kudan, Soba and Zaria local government councils are recruiting thugs to attack opposition events, and disrupt our campaign plans. As a law abiding coalition, we are hereby notifying INEC and the security agencies of the unlawful and undemocratic actions, as well as the nefarious plans of the APC government of Kaduna State, and urging that it should be brought to order to avoid unpredictable reactions of our supporters and the general populace,” the statement further added.
By-election: ADC, SDP alleges plan by APC to sabotage electoral process in Kaduna
