Jigawa Speaker Manipulates Primary Election with Thugs, Security Agents, Co-Contestant Alleged
By Aliyu Dangida
HOTPEN – The All Progressives Congress (APC) Jahun state’s Assembly aspirant in the just concluded primary elections has accused Speaker Jigawa state house of Assembly, Honourable Idris Garba Karaka of using his position to manipulate the conduct of the party (APC)’s primary election held
This was contained in a petition written and sent to the state’s assembly primary election appeal committee and to national headquarter of the party, copied to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all security agencies in the state.
The petition which was obtained a copy by our reporter in the state was signed by the petitioner and APC Jahun state assembly aspirant, Alhaji Jamilu Muhammadu Danmalam said “It is with esteemed regards and humility that I write to your distinguished office to petition Hon. Idris Garba Kareka, the current Speaker Jigawa State House of Assembly and aspirant for the position of Member Jigawa state House of Assembly, Jahun constituency, over his outright use of influence and power to manipulate the conduct of the primary election held on Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Jahun local government area of Jigawa state.
“A list of 55 delegates was compiled, 5 from each of the 11 political wards of the local government following their election, and was submitted to the state Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its perusal in accordance with the electoral law.
“However, on Thursday, May 26, 2022, the scheduled date for the APC governorship and state House of Assembly primary elections, just as arrangements were concluded to commence the accreditation of delegates, the presiding officer deployed to handle the conduct and supervision of the election, Usman Baita ‘Yalleman, started calling names from a different list; the names of which did not match with the one earlier agreed upon and submitted to INEC”.
Danmalam added that “the delegates and other observers raised concerns, stating that the list which the presiding officer was reading from was not the one known to the elected delegates, the leadership of the party and INEC.
As tension gathered, and with people expressing their displeasure over the alteration of the list, the Speaker Jigawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Idris Garba Kareka, sauntered into the election venue (the Duplex House of Jahun Local Government Chairman) at around 4:34pm along with security operatives and political thugs. They fired tear gas and scared off the delegates, officials and other people gathered at the election venue, tearing some of the election materials, particularly the ballot papers”.