Zamfara: APC’s Withdrawal Is Out Of Fear Of Defeat – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State has reacted to the withdrawal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the rerun by-election for the Bakura State House of Assembly seat, saying fear of near-certain defeat informed the APC’s decision.

A statement issued on Tuesday, quoted the PDP chairman in the state, Tukur Danfulani, as saying that the party received the news of the APC’s withdrawal unsurprisingly.

Danfulani said: “We still want to re-echo our earlier call, especially on the security agents to ensure the protection of the people’s lives and property, before, during, and after the election and not to allow miscreants distort it.”

According to him, “It is one thing to back out from an election in fear of near-certain defeat and another to leave the thugs that were used in the first leg of the election to come more venomous since they have nothing to lose.”

Read also: INEC Declares Zamfara By-Election Inconclusive

He said the APC raised some of the same issues identified by the PDP, such as intimidation of voters, ballot box snatching, and the use of security operatives to perpetuate riggings in the election.

He explained that this led to the declaration of the earlier exercise inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP chairman assured that as the ruling party in Zamfara, the government would continue to ensure a level playing ground for all political parties and residents of the state.

The Zamfara State APC, on Tuesday, said it will not take part in the by-election, Eko Hot Blog had reported.