Irregularities, manipulations mar Katsina APC congress

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

The All Progressive Congress (APC), Katsina state chapter, recorded a major set back as ward congresses across the 34 local government areas were marred with complaints of irregularities and manipulations.

Our Correspondent who monitored the conduct of the exercise at the weekend observed that in most of the wards, lack of proper organization and attempt to hijack the exercise scuttled the process.

In Nasarawa ward in Funtua Local Government, the exercise could not hold as it was observed that some of the prospective voters were carrying fake party registration cards.

It was similarly observed that clash of interests among the chieftains of the party was responsible for the rowdy nature of the exercise where in some places the exercise led to a free for all fight.

In Dandutse ward in Funtua, one of the candidate contesting for the ward chairman had to be rescued by the police as a rival faction descended on him.

In Dandume local government, the story was the same as some thugs attempted to snatch the result while the electoral officers were on their way to deliver it at the zonal headquarters of the party in Funtua.

When contacted, the Interim Chairman of the party in the state, Architect Ahmad Dangiwa announced that due to the perceived problems, the party has cancelled the conduct of the ward congress in Daura zone.

The chairman attributed the party’s problem in the state to the ambition of the political aspirant, lamenting “their ambition is threatening the party. They fail to understand that we have to build the party before thinking of contesting”.

Dangiwa similarly stated that party headquarters was waiting for the result of the election in Funtua and Katsina zone, adding that where elections run into stalmate in these two zones, a new date would be fixed for a re-run.