A former Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Prof. Mohammad Sani Haruna, has described the recently concluded governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress in Nasarawa State as “a sham” and “sheer allocation of figures.”
Haruna, who contested the APC governorship ticket in the state, accused unnamed party officials and electoral officers of manipulating the exercise in favour of what he called the “government-anointed aspirant.”
Addressing journalists at a press conference on Sunday in Keffi following the official declaration of the results of the primary election, the former governorship aspirant alleged widespread irregularities, intimidation, disenfranchisement of party members and non-arrival of electoral materials in many polling units across the state.
According to him, reports obtained from his agents, coordinators and party stakeholders showed that the exercise fell far short of democratic standards expected within the ruling party.
“Anyone who believes in accountability before God Almighty and has conscience should reject this result,” Haruna declared.
“The primary election was a sham and sheer allocation of figures in 80 per cent of the wards in the state. It was a slap on democracy and a desecration of the ballot.
“Members were brazenly denied opportunity to exercise their constitutional responsibility. Might was on display in utter contempt of party members. It was all a charade,” he said.
Haruna claimed that some of the electoral officials deployed for the exercise were openly partisan and allegedly worked in favour of a preferred aspirant.
He further alleged that in several wards, electoral materials and officials never arrived, thereby preventing party members from voting.
“For instance, electoral officials and materials never arrived at my electoral ward, therefore denying me an opportunity to vote,” he stated.
On whether he has confidence on the national leadership of the APC to correct the anomaly, Haruna said “yes”.
He added: “I am satisfied with the concrete and efficient arrangements that the national body has organized. We witnessed the arrival of the committee to conduct the election in Nasarawa State. They efficiently and transparently displayed all that is involved in the process, and our representatives witnessed, understood and agreed with the process.
However, what they did after the process — for instance, the distribution of electoral materials to senatorial zones — was witnessed by our agents. However, on arrival at the senatorial zone headquarters for onward distribution to local government councils, several materials went missing and could not be traced.
“From the local government headquarters, our officially accredited ward agents who were supposed to witness what was happening were not even allowed into the premises. From there, the destinations of the ballot boxes were not known.”
The former NASENI boss said many APC members reportedly waited from morning till late night in anticipation of the arrival of officials and materials that never came.
He also alleged intimidation and harassment in some polling locations, saying the conduct of certain individuals created fear and confusion among party faithful.
“Equally troubling were reports and evidence of intimidation, harassment and disruption in certain polling areas by individuals whose actions created fear and confusion during the exercise,” he said.
Haruna insisted that the allegations were backed by documentary evidence, videos, photographs and testimonies gathered from party members and stakeholders across the state.
He therefore called on the national leadership of the APC to immediately review the exercise and order a fresh governorship primary election in Nasarawa State.
“I wholeheartedly urge the National Secretariat of APC to review the primary election and conduct a fresh one in Nasarawa State. We have to live up to our reputation as a truly progressive and democratic party,” he added.
Despite his grievances, Haruna urged his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that politics should not become a source of violence or division.
“At this critical moment, I urge all our supporters and well-wishers across Nasarawa State to remain calm, peaceful, law-abiding and steadfast to allow this injustice to be corrected.
“Politics should never become a source of violence, hatred or division among our people,” he said.
He maintained that his political ambition remained alive and that consultations had commenced with stakeholders across the state on the next line of action.
“This journey has never been about personal ambition; it has always been about service, development, inclusiveness and creating better opportunities for the people of our dear state,” he stated.
Haruna said the outcome of the consultations would determine his future political direction, adding that his supporters would be formally informed at the appropriate time.
