The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately delete the Zamfara People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the March 11, 2023 governorship election immediately.
Justice Aminu Aliyu of Federal High Court, Gusau had, on Friday ruled that the PDP governorship primary election in Zamfara State conducted on 25th May 2022 was in flagrant violation of Section 50(2) (b) & (3) of the constitution of the PDP 2017 (as amended).
But the APC National Vice Chairman, North-west, Dr. Salihu Lukman in a statement issued Tuesday, said the order of the Federal High Court asked the PDP to conduct a valid primary election under the supervision of INEC for the enlistment of its candidate for the 2023 general election.
Lukman in the statement said with the judgement, PDP has no candidate for the March 11, 2023 governorship election in the state.
He added, “PDP and any considered candidate for the party for 2023 governorship election should only be enlisted if provisions of the PDP 2017 constitution as amended and provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 are met as directed by Honourable Justice Aminu B. Aliyu.”
“Therefore, in addition to delisting PDP and its 2023 governorship candidate for Zamfara State as directed by the order of the Federal High Court, Gusau, INEC must take every step to ensure that PDP’s conduct of disrespect for its own rules is not allowed to pollute the 2023 elections.”
Lukman alleged that by its conduct, PDP was only working to win the 2023 elections through rigging.
The APC Chieftain pointed out that PDP as a party that manages its internal contests in breach of its own rules could only win elections by unfair and illegal means.
The member of the National Working Committee noted that Nigerian democracy has come of age, stressing that PDP must not be allowed to take Nigeria back to the dark period of unfair and illegal determination of election results based on the imposition of candidates and winners of the election.
Lukman called on INEC and all patriotic Nigerians, especially APC leaders in the North-West, as well as APC candidates for the 2023 elections at all levels to be vigilant to stop the PDP from attempting to impose their ‘candidates’ as winners.