Some leaders of the Katsina State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have alleged that no ward election was conducted in the state at the weekend, threatening to go to court, if any result was released.
A group of the party leaders, led by Abdulkadir Damale and Hassan Isah, in a statement yesterday in Katsina, claimed that the congresses were not carried out.
“We wish to draw the attention of the national leadership of the APC that no ward congress was conducted in Katsina State.
“In Katsina State, the electoral officials sent from the national headquarters of the party were hijacked by officials of the state government.
“These state government officials sat in the Government House and other undesignated venues and filled the result sheets with the names of people selected by government officials.
“We, therefore, reject any purported release of result as an outcome of the ward congress.
“We are calling on the APC national headquarters to set-up a committee to investigate this illegality,” the statement added.
It said that setting up a committee to investigate what happened was the only way to restore public confidence and ensure the support of party members ahead of next year’s election.
“We are prepared to proceed to the court if any result is announced,” the APC stalwarts warned.
Contacted, Mr. Mohammed Tanko, chairman of the ward congress election committee in Katsina State, dismissed the claims that no election was held in the state.
“We actually conducted elections in all the 34 local governments; the turnout was massive and we ensured that all aspirants were given equal opportunities,” he said.
Tanko said that a committee had been set up to listen to complaints by aggrieved members, and advised those not satisfied to lodge their petitions.