Zamfara PDP Alleges APC Holding INEC Officials Hostage in Some Collation Centers

The Zamfara state chapter of the Peoples  Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the state government and ruling All Progressives Congress of threatening INEC officials in some local government areas of the state.

The party said that all the results uploaded virtually had shown that PDP won by landslide.

PDP in a statement issued Sunday in Gusau by the Dauda Lawal Media Office alleged that the state government was not happy with the outcome of the governorship election because it was not in its favor.

The Media office raised the alarm that there were serious issues at the moment at Bakura, Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi, Zurmi, and Bungudu.

“It is clear that our governorship candidate, Dauda Lawal is coasting to victory in more than 80% of results so far uploaded on the INEC portal.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission has uploaded 2839 polling units out of the 3529 polling units in Zamfara State.

“But the information coming to us is that the state government is holding officials of the INEC hostage in the Bakura local government area, intending to disrupt and manipulate the remaining 5 polling units out of the 189 polling units yet to be uploaded.

“In Kauran Namoda, Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura (allegedly) ambushed the collation center with thugs and police in his effort to disrupt the collation process. Two people were shot dead by the police accompanying the senator. INEC has uploaded 246 polling units out of 261 polling units of the local government.

“Our major concern is the Shinkafi local government area where only 4 polling units were uploaded out of the 172 polling units of the local government area. We have learned that the state government is plotting to disrupt and manipulate the collation process in their favor.

“There is a serious concern in Birnin Magaji and Zurmi local governments. The state government is hellbent to manipulate some of the results, with the help of some compromised INEC staff and some security agents.

“We frown at the ongoing disruptions of collation of election results and violence across Zamfara as reports from our men and women on the field indicate infliction of violence and assault on PDP agents and representatives.”