By Mohammed Umar
Former Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari has expressed disgust over the conduct of the Bakura State Assembly bye-election, saying that it was a complete shame on the officials of Zamfara State Government.
Yari, who spoke to newsmen in his home town, Talata Mafara, said the election was characterised by massive rigging and serious election malpractices aided and abetted by some officials of Zamfara State Government and PDP political office holders.
Yari specifically accused the Senator representing Zamfara West Senatorial zone, Alhaji Lawal Hassan Daniya, a member Houise of Representatives, Alhaji Kabiru Amadu Mai and the State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Danfulani of allegedly aiding political thugs in ballot box -snatching during the election.
The former Governor also accused State Finance Commissioner Rabiu Garba, his counterpart from Local Government and Chaplaincy Affairs Yahaya Chado, and that of Agriculture, Dr. Suleman Yarkofoji of ballot box -snatching at the various polling units.
He also accused the State Commandant of Zamfara Road Traffic Management Agency, Alhaji Aliyu Alhazzai of snatching ballot boxes and setting them on fire in the presence of the voters.
The former Governor stressed that, his party the APC didn’t partake in the election rigging adding that “we have the majority and can win the election at any time”.
He expressed disgust over the way and manner the security agencies compromised openly by allowing supporters of the PDP to rig the election in the open and intimidate the voters for their selfish political reason.
He urged members of the APC to continue to be law-abiding, explaining that they have written to the APC National Headquarters to intimate them on what PDP had done during the bye-election.
Yari maintained that “unless INEC and security agencies are ready to provide enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the re-run election, the APC will withdraw from the race”
