The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarm that APC is bane on using forces to emasculate democrtaic space especially in the rescheduled by-elections across the country.
Using Kaura Namoda South bye election as a reference point, Hon. Debo Ologunagba the PDP National Publicity Secretary insisted that the Saturday 16th August 2025 bye election at Kaura Namoda was marred by violence, voters intimidation and excessive use of security forces.
The statement added that “available reports reveal that the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency Bye Election held on Saturday, 16th August 2025 was marred by massive intimidation, threat and harassment of the voters by APC controlled security agencies”.
“Photographs/video evidence reveal the brutalization of voters and carting away of ballot boxes by heavily armed security personnel who boasted that they were acting on orders from above”.
“As a result of the induced intimidation and suppression of votes, the election which was overwhelmingly won by the PDP was curiously declared “inconclusive” in five Polling Units, namely; Alko/Shiyar Kudu PU, Sakajiki Ward; Shiyar Magaji/Kofar Hamza PU, Kyambarawa Ward; Shiyar Nufawa/ kofar MD Nuhu PU, Sakajiki Ward; Tukasu/Sabuwar Kasuwa PU, Kyambarawa Ward; Kofar Fada/Shiyar Fada PU, Kyambarawa Ward with the intent to enable the APC manipulate the electoral process and allocate the victory of the PDP in the election to the APC”.
“In their desperation to subvert the Will of the people in the re-run election scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, 21st August 2025, the APC in an operation which allegedly has the involvement of a Minister from Zamfara State is currently deploying full battalions of the Army, the Navy, the Airforce, the Mobile Police Force and the Directorate of State Services (DSS) from Abuja and other parts of the country to just five Polling Units in Zamfara State”.
“The aim of this nefarious deployment is to foist a siege mentality on the people of the Constituency, intimidate, terrorize and prevent them from coming out to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to vote, having realized that the APC has been soundly rejected by the people of Zamfara State”.
“Intelligence available to our Party reveals that the APC intends to use the security agencies to bully and prevent officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting a free, fair and credible electoral process as well as assist the APC to manipulate and declare a result that is at variance with the expressed Will and Aspiration of the people”.
“The implication of this ugly development under President Tinubu’s watch is that it constitutes a clear and present danger to democracy, stability and cooperate existence of our country, knowing from history that the Zamfara people are not a conquered people but always standing firm to defend their rights in the face of any aggression”.
“Our Party invites Nigerians and the International Community to note that the APC’s resort to state-backed intimidation and force in election is a clear signal of the creeping totalitarianism and one-party State which the APC has stated as its cardinal goal in our country. This is a recipe for crisis!”
“Our Party also calls on Nigerians and the International Community to hold the APC responsible should there be any breakdown of Law and Order in Kaura Namoda South State Constituency or any part of Zamfara State”.
“Moreover, the PDP and of course the people of Zamfara State WILL NOT accept any results that is at variance with the expressed Will of the people as evidenced by the already collated results from Kaura Namoda South State Constituency”.
“It is clear and the APC should know that Zamfara State is a PDP State and the people are standing firmly with the PDP and Governor Dauda Lawal who has turned around the State with the implementation of life-enhancing infrastructural, human capital and citizen empowerment development programes and will never surrender to the assaults of the APC”.
“The PDP therefore calls on President Tinubu and demands for immediate halt in this APC’s plot to use security forces to undermine democracy and subvert the sovereign Will of the people to freely elect their own representatives”.
