Claims APC Winning in All 23 LGAs is Unlikely
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State Chapter, has criticized the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM), asserting that elections did not occur in the 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Southern Kaduna during the council elections held on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
In a statement released on Sunday, MBF Kaduna Chapter Chairman, Luka Binniyat, claimed that election materials arrived late, lacked result sheets, and created suspicion among voters, causing them to refuse participation.
The statement emphasized that MBF represents members from the 12 Southern Kaduna LGAs and non-indigenous residents from other parts of the former Northern Nigeria. According to Binniyat, the forum has significant stakes in the elections, with its members contesting across various political parties.
Binniyat noted that the absence of elections in the Southern Kaduna LGAs means there could be no legitimate declaration of winners at the ward and local government levels, as required by KAD-SIECOM law.
In a statement titled *”Kaduna State 2023 Local Governments Elections: Matters Arising,”* the forum stated:
“From what we gathered, elections did not hold in the majority of the 12 LGAs of the Middle Belt in Kaduna State. Election materials arrived late, lacked results sheets, and, as a result, the electorate refused to vote.”
The MBF criticized the release of purported KAD-SIECOM results, which allocated votes to candidates despite no results being collated from the polls in these LGAs.
The statement also highlighted MBF’s high regard for Governor Uba Sani, praising his democratic values and inclusive governance. However, the forum warned that allowing the announcement of what they see as manipulated results could damage the trust and integrity Governor Sani has built.
The forum also expressed disappointment with how the elections were conducted, contrasting it with the tenure of former Governor Nasir el-Rufai, whom they criticized but acknowledged allowed fairer local government elections in the Southern Kaduna areas.
“It would be unfortunate if Governor Sani permits the announced results to stand as the final say. No one knows the implications of such actions for the future, especially since this is a violation of democratic values,” the statement added.
The forum further recommended that the Kaduna State House of Assembly amend the KAD-SIECOM law to impose stricter penalties for electoral misconduct, including heavy fines and jail terms for officials involved in electoral fraud.
MBF urged Governor Sani to take a courageous stand that strengthens democracy in the state and reassures the Middle Belt communities of his fairness. They also called on their members to remain calm, warning those who may benefit from the announced results to celebrate with caution due to the controversial nature of the election.
The forum concluded by advising aggrieved members to pursue legal action through electoral panels rather than resorting to violence.
“This manipulation, if it stands, would be a dangerous omen for 2027, and we must all be prepared to resist such ballot robbery. However, no one must take the law into their hands—this is not in our character,” the statement concluded.
