APC governorship primaries mockery of democracy — Sarkin Sharifai

A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Nasarawa State, Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna, popularly known as Sarkin Sharifai, has condemned the party’s recently concluded gubernatorial primaries, describing the exercise as a “mockery of democracy” and a “deeply flawed process.”

Haruna, a former Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, made his position known through a statement released by his media aide, Peter Ewu.

The APC governorship primaries were declared in favour of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, chairman of the election committee, Professor Theodore Maiyaki (SAN), announced him as the winner of the contest.

However, reacting to the outcome, Sarkin Sharifai rejected the results outright, alleging widespread irregularities, voter suppression, and manipulation of figures to favour a preferred candidate.

According to him, people allegedly known to be loyal to the government-backed aspirant were deployed as electoral officials across several parts of the state, thereby compromising the credibility of the process.

He further claimed that many wards and polling centres never received electoral materials or officials, leaving numerous party members unable to participate in the exercise.

“In my own electoral ward, neither electoral officials nor voting materials arrived, denying me and many others the opportunity to vote,” he stated.

The aspirant also alleged that party supporters in several locations waited from morning until late at night for officials who never showed up, resulting in frustrathe tion and disenfranchisement among loyal APC members.

He expressed concern over reports of intimidation, harassment, and disruption allegedly carried out by certain individuals during the exercise, noting that such actions created fear and confusion in some polling areas.

Haruna insisted that his claims were backed by videos, photographs, reports, and testimonies gathered from party stakeholders and observers across Nasarawa State.

“Anyone with a conscience and a sense of accountability before God should reject these results. What happened was nothing more than allocation of figures in most wards across the state. It was an insult to democracy and a betrayal of the electoral process,” he said.

He accused party leaders of denying members their constitutional right to freely choose their candidate, describing the entire process as a charade orchestrated with impunity.

The APC chieftain called on the party’s National Secretariat to cancel the exercise and conduct fresh, transparent, and credible governorship primaries in line with democratic principles.

Despite his grievances, Haruna maintained that he and his supporters remain committed to peace, political maturity, and democratic engagement as the 2027 general elections approach.

He urged his supporters to remain calm, law-abiding, and avoid violence while efforts are made to address the alleged injustice.

“Politics should never become a source of hatred, division, or violence among our people,” he added.

The governorship aspirant further disclosed that he had begun extensive consultations with supporters, political associates, elders, youth and women groups, community leaders, and other stakeholders within and outside the state.

According to him, the consultations are aimed at reviewing the current political situation and determining the most appropriate course of action in the interest of his supporters and the people of Nasarawa State.

“At the end of these consultations, we will formally unveil our next political direction and position to the public,” he concluded.

APC governorship primaries mockery of democracy — Sarkin Sharifai