The Zamfara Chapter of the Nigeria Rescue Movement (NRM) has said it will not participate in the governorship and state assembly elections slated for March 9.
The party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Saidu Dansadau, disclosed this at a news conference in Gusau on Sunday.
He said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had failed in its promise of conducting a free, fair, credible and acceptable elections in the state.
“We, as a party will not participate in the coming governorship and house of assembly elections in protest of the failure of INEC to live up to its promises of free, fair and credible polls.
“The just concluded Presidential/National Assembly elections in the state have proven that the INEC and the security agencies will not be fair to other political parties.
‘This is we have watched them working against ensuring the credibility of the elections.
“The NRM will therefore not participate in the governorship and state assembly elections scheduled for March 9, until the INEC nullifies the Presidential and National Assembly elections held yesterday, Feb. 23,” he said.
He alleged that some unidentified hoodlums supported by security personnel harassed the electorate, after which they mutilated and burnt elections materials.
Dansadau, a former senator, said his party was currently gathering more evidence to buttress the claims.
He specifically accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary in the state, Alhaji Shehu Barde, for leading security agents to disrupt elections at some polling units.
In a reaction, however, Shehu Barde denied the allegations saying they were “defeatist statements”.
“It is really not possible even by common sense to think that as a civilian, I can order soldiers, police or any other security personnel to disrupt a political process.
“President Muhammadu Buhari made it abundantly clear to all Nigerians of what will happen to anyone caught trying to truncate the election.
“And the security has expressed determination to carry out the order, who will then risk his life,” he said.
Meanwhile, INEC has said that collation of the presidential election results would start in earnest at its state headquarters in Gusau this Sunday, as the results have started coming in. (NAN)
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