The recent Kaura Namoda South State House of Assembly bye-election in Zamfara State has ignited a firestorm of accusations, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) claiming a decisive victory over the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a scathing rejoinder, Zamfara APC Publicity Secretary Yusuf Idris Gusau accused Governor Dauda Lawal of resorting to underhanded tactics, including hiring a “criminal writer” to deflect blame for the PDP’s electoral loss.
The APC’s emphatic win in the bye-election, described as a “wide, incontestable margin,” left the PDP reeling, with party insiders reportedly pointing fingers at Governor Lawal’s leadership style, poor party coordination, and alleged favoritism toward outsiders.
Despite these internal criticisms, no legal challenge has been mounted by the PDP, which Gusau suggests is due to the undeniable outcome of the election.
Gusau’s statement takes aim at a PDP-sponsored article penned under the pseudonym Yusuf Alkali AbdurRahman, titled “Military and Democracy in Nigeria…”, which he claims was a failed attempt to discredit the APC’s victory.
The APC alleges that the PDP planned to disrupt the election with armed thugs and even bandits, a scheme thwarted by proactive security measures.
According to Gusau, the Zamfara Commissioner of Police issued a stern warning to miscreants the night before the election, and some individuals, including aides to the governor and members of his convoy, were arrested for their involvement in suspicious activities.
Further escalating the accusations, Gusau claims that PDP-affiliated thugs, supported by a state-owned security outfit and members of the Maiduguri Civilian JTF, fired gunshots at security personnel during the election.
Over 200 bullet shells were reportedly recovered, with the situation de-escalated by the professionalism of Kaduna Commissioner of Police Mohammed Rabiu.
The APC also alleges that the state government misallocated over N2 billion for the bye-election, funds that Gusau claims were not used to address pressing issues like banditry victims’ welfare.
In a twist of irony, Gusau notes that the pseudonymous writer inadvertently criticized Governor Lawal’s governance, urging him to “broaden inclusivity” and address “infrastructural neglect.”
The APC further accuses the PDP of hypocrisy, pointing out that the party allegedly used military influence to seize power in Zamfara in 2023 but now decries security involvement when it works against them.
Gusau concluded by calling on Governor Lawal to rethink his administration’s approach and prioritize public concerns, warning that the people of Zamfara are growing weary of political theatrics.
As the dust settles on the bye-election, the APC’s victory has intensified the rivalry between the two parties, setting the stage for further political battles in the state.
