Alleged change of delegates’ lists: Apprehension in Nasarawa over risk of APC’s disqualification

From Abel Abogonye Lafia

Crisis is brewing in the Nasarawa state chapter of the APC over the ongoing Primaries of the party following alleged change of delegates list hours after the Governorship Primaries.

The fear is that the change of the delegates list may affect the Governor’s nomination if challengef in court, because the delegates who voted for the Governor may not be the same for the house of assembly, the house of Representatives and the Senate.

The change is allegedly comming on the directive of the national chairman of the party Senator Abdullahi Adamu who it alleged is bent on imposing candidates for state house of assembly seats, House of Representatives seats and the Senate seats from the state.

The intention our Correspondent gathered is to take over the structures of the party from the incumbent Governor in 2027 when he will be completing his second tenure to allow him install a Governor and maintain the structures.

The development may lead to breakdown of law and order in the state if urgent steps are not taken as 98% of the state assembly aspirants have withdrawn from the race in protest with a vow that the exercise will not hold unless the legitimately elected delegates are … to participate.

The change of delegates’ list it was alleged is to favour Barr Danladi Evunlanza against incumbent Senator Godiya Akwashiki in the Nasarawa north Senatorial district, and Arch Shehu Tukur in the Nasarawa West Senatorial district against Hon Ahmed Wadada, Barr Labaran Magaji.

The same change is not in favour of the member representing Keana, Awe, Doma federal lawmaker Hon Hassan Nalaraba as well as the second term member representing Lafia/Obi federal constituency Hon Abubakar Sarki Dahiru who is seeking a 3rd term.

Our Correspondent gathered that the party risk disqualification of all it’s candidates because INEC has warned on the consequences of changing delegates lists it had recognized mid into the election.

INEC had told the party that the new delegates list flying around is not recognized by the commission adding that if allowed to participate in the selection of candidates will affect the candidates of the party and may likely be nullified like the case of Zamfara and Rivers State.

This development may pave way for the court to declare all PDP candidates dully elected including the Governorship candidate on account that the APC do not have valid delegates.

A lot of the house of assembly aspirants from Doma, Obi, Awe, Keana, Lafia, Nasarawa Eggon have withdrawn from the race scheduled for Friday morning on account of the development.

There is serious tension in the state as various aspirants are threatening to dump the party if the new delegates’ list is allowed to be used.

Speaking to Journalists at the party secretariat, Chairman of the APC in the state Dr John Maaman said he is disappointed in the national Secretariat of the party, adding that the state will not “tolerate this unwarranted doctoring of the official delegates’ list sent to the national Secretariat “

“We consider this as an undemocratic move that is capable of breeding disaffection, tension and disunity in the party, therefore the party will not accept any list outside of Congress of the party conducted in the state.

“The national Secretariat therefore in the interest of peace, unity, harmony and progress of the party should ensure that the wishes of our law abiding and loyal party members are respected” he said