Security: Zamfara election won’t be credible ― APGA guber candidate

THE All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) gubernatorial candidate in Zamfara state, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, has expressed fears that the coming elections in the state will not be credible because of its pervading insecurity.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, he observed that the majority of electoral wards in the state has been declared “no-go areas,” saying therefore that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needs to create alternative polling centres to enable the people to vote.

He observed that banditry is a serious problem in the state and attacks can happen at any time.

The gubernatorial candidate said in response to whether there can be an election in Zamfara State: “We doubt the credibility of the election. Why? Because more than 80 electoral wards out of 147 wards are under siege of armed bandits.

“So, we call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to create alternative polling units where IDPs will exercise their constitutional rights for them to vote during the election.

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“Failure to do that, I doubt the transparency of the system, the credibility of the system and also free and fair election may not be possible because 80 electoral wards across 14 local governments have been marked no-go areas, not just for politicians but even for security.

“That’s why even our campaign, we restricted it to only local governments and major towns. Any time we are having a campaign, we bring the people from the wards.”

Shinkafi warned that the February 16 presidential election may become inconclusive if the exercise is not

conducted in Zamfara State because of insecurity as he noted that the outcome of the election cannot be declared with the state’s input.

He blamed Governor Abdulaziz Yari’s utterances for the escalating insecurity and called for action against him.

Shinkafi stated: “I am constrained to bring to the attention of the world the threat by Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari’s to stop the 2019 general elections in Zamfara State.

“Brutal killings have been going in Zamfara State for quite some time and with the recent attacks on our people which resulted in the killing of many people including the senior sister of a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Kabiru Marafa.

“We are talking about the killing of so many people and over 400 people under captivity in the state and many Electoral wards under siege.

“I have suspended my campaign in Zamfara state following the fresh attacks on communities by bandits in the state.

“I want to announce that I have suspended all my campaign programmes due to the renewed rising bandits activities in the state.

“I also wish to call on the government and security agencies to come up with practical measures that will adequately bring the bandits activities to an end.”

He accused YarI of using his “militancy style of leadership” to threaten that there would be no elections in Zamfara State if the INEC refuses to obey the Zamfara State High Court Gusau Division judgment recognizing Yari’s candidates for the election contrary to the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja.

He regretted that despite the governor’s utterances which he said are capable of causing a security breach, he had not been called to order.

Shinkafi further said: “So, the security agencies should thoroughly investigate the matter. This time around relevant agencies of government including DSS, Police and INEC should get to the root of the matter and reassure the people of Zamfara State who have been subjected to incessant harassment, kidnapping and killings of their safety.

“We demand that Yari be invited by security agencies to explain his threat and as would have been the case in civilized societies.”