Nasarawa APC Group Accuses Senator Wadada of Intimidation and Influence Peddling
A pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State has issued a stern warning to Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, a governorship aspirant, over allegations of invoking the name of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to gain undue advantage in the upcoming race. The group, known as the Nasarawa APC Integrity Forum, has raised concerns about Wadada's tactics, accusing him of name-dropping the President and businessman Gilbert Chagoury instead of engaging directly with party members and the electorate to build genuine support.
Allegations of Undemocratic Practices
In a statement released on Wednesday in Lafia, the forum's leaders, Zamani Daniel and Ibrahim Tukur, detailed their accusations. They alleged that Senator Wadada, who represents the Nasarawa West Senatorial District, has been boasting about his close relationships with President Tinubu and Chagoury. According to the group, this behavior is not only misleading but also serves to intimidate other aspirants and their supporters, creating an unfair playing field in the democratic process.
The statement emphasized that democracy should be driven by popular support, urging all aspirants to focus on connecting with voters rather than relying on perceived political connections. "We know Mr. President to be a true democrat who believes in the will of the majority. It is therefore surprising that Wadada is allegedly claiming that he would be hand-picked ahead of other aspirants," the group stated, highlighting the contradiction between Wadada's actions and democratic principles.
Call for Fair Play and Direct Engagement
The Nasarawa APC Integrity Forum further stressed the importance of direct primaries, which have been adopted by stakeholders in the state. They argued that aspirants should market themselves to the people through transparent means, rather than seeking endorsements through questionable tactics. "With direct primaries adopted by stakeholders, aspirants should market themselves to the people instead of seeking endorsements through questionable means," the statement added, reinforcing the need for integrity in the electoral process.
Additionally, the forum alleged that Wadada was attempting to wield influence over security and anti-corruption agencies to pressure other contenders in the race. This, they warned, poses a significant threat to democratic norms and the constitutional rights of all aspirants. "Political participation is a constitutional right. Aspirants should be free to pursue their ambitions without fear or intimidation. Resorting to undemocratic tactics to edge out opponents is not only undesirable but dangerous to our democracy," the group asserted, calling for an end to such practices.
The allegations have sparked discussions within the APC in Nasarawa State, with many observers watching closely to see how the party addresses these concerns ahead of the governorship primaries. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges in maintaining fair and transparent political processes in Nigeria's democratic landscape.
