The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially announced the winners of the party's primary elections for the three senatorial districts in the state. According to authoritative sources, Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis was elected to represent the Zamfara Central Senatorial District, Senator Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari retained his seat unopposed, and Senator Sahabi Ya'u Kaura was also returned as the candidate for his district.
No Primary Election Held
However, it has been widely reported that no actual primary election was conducted for the National Assembly positions in the state. Instead, the party leadership decided to return all incumbents without any voting process. This decision by the national secretariat of the party has sparked significant tension across the state, as many aspirants believe they were unfairly sidelined in the political arrangements.
Aspirants Express Discontent
One of the senatorial aspirants from Zamfara North, Dr. Abdullahi Sani Shinkafi, expressed his discomfort with the party's decision. He stated that the party should have allowed the masses to vote for their preferred candidates. According to him, democracy has now become a system of the few, by the few, and for the few, rather than a government of the people, for the people, and by the people.
Shinkafi highlighted the negative implications of imposing candidates against the people's will, emphasizing that democracy cannot thrive under such a system. He vowed to continue fighting for his rights and the rights of the masses, regardless of the obstacles. He noted that Nigeria will remain backward as long as this undemocratic system persists in the political landscape.
Other Contestants Speak Out
Other contestants also criticized the process, describing the system as corrupt. They pointed out that vote counts were announced even though no one had actually voted in accordance with electoral laws. One lamented, "We must join forces to terminate this kind of undemocratic system of government. It is only in Nigeria that such a system is being practiced."
