*Says its impossible for APC to win in all 23 LGAs
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State Chapter has revealed that elections by Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM), did not hold in 12 LGAs in Kaduna state during last Saturday 19th October 2024 LG council elections.
The chapter chairman Luka Binniyat, in a statement on Sunday, averred that election materials arrived late and came without results sheets, and created suspicion among electorates of an untoward game, and refused to vote.
The forum recalled that, MBF, Kaduna State Chapter, is made up members from the 12 LGAs of Southern Kaduna and non-Kaduna State indigenes from other parts of defunct Northern Nigeria that were never part of the Sokoto Caliphate and Kanem-Borno empire in pre-colonial Nigeria, and therefore have high stakes in this election, with it members contesting in the elections which spread across all parties, as her considerations.
According to MBF, since the election did not hold, there was no way that results would have been announced to declare winners at the ward levels (Councillors) and at the Local Government Headquarters (Chairmen) as mandated in the KAD-SIECOM law, PART VI Section 23 (1) and (
The statement titled: “Kaduna State 2023 Local Governments Elections: Matters Arising”, reads in parts: “That from all that we have gathered from the field yesterday (Saturday), elections did not hold in the overwhelming 12 LGAs of the Middle Belt in Kaduna state.
“Election materials arrived late and came without results sheets and the electorates, suspicious of an untoward game, refused to vote.
“Since the election did not hold, there was no way that results would have been announced to declare winners at the ward levels (Councillors) and at the Local Government Headquarters (Chairmen) as mandated in the KAD-SIECOM law, PART VI Section 23 (1) and (2).
“No such results were declared anywhere in the 12 LGAs of the Middle Belt zone of the state, otherwise known as Southern Kaduna. We have viewed documents on the social media purported to be KAD-SIECOM results sheets, apportioning votes to candidates of political parties, when clearly no such results were collated at the polls”, it noted.
The release stressed that based on the aforementioned, the forum made some observation, acknowledging that Governor Uba Sani has been held in high esteem in the Middle Belt as a democrat, a tolerant politician with a fair sense of justice and inclusivity in his governance.
The Forum which however expressed happiness over the departure of Governor Sani from his predecessor they regarded ‘as tyrannical, insensitive, abusive and divisive added that “Ironically, the former Governor Nasir el-Rufai that we regarded as a despot and had no good will to our people, showed some modicum of decency by allowing Local Government elections during his tenure to be hugely free and fair in the Middle Belt areas of Kaduna state. Even at that, his party, the APC, still won in some LGAs.
“It will therefore be very unfortunate and a huge minus to the integrity and trust that Governor Uba Sani has built among us if he allows the announcement of Hajia Hajara Mohammed to stand as the real results of yesterday’s supposed Local Government election.
“We understand that it has become a very sick and sad fad for governors to emasculate all positions of Chairmen and Councilors during Local Government elections to their parties 100%.
“No one knows the implication of such injustice on even the perpetrators in the future even as it is a huge injury to democracy and civilisation. There is nothing honourable and noble about such backwards development. It is electoral brigandry and must not be celebrated or even tolerated.
“Governor Sani should realise the particularity of Kaduna state, as a place that is highly advanced, hugely cosmopolitan, and sadly volatile and sensitive to such matters. As the father of the state, he must do the needful and make urgent intervention.
“It is possible for the APC to win all the 23 LGAs of Kaduna state, but it must do so under the rules in a manner that we can in good conscience, congratulate it and extend our hands of cooperation and work with the winners for a better state”, it stated
Forum made some recommendations, adding “We plead with Kaduna State House of Assembly, to amend the KAD-SIECOM law to include heavy fines and jail terms for electoral offenses, especially for officials handling electoral matters.
“Governor UBA Sani, who has the final say in this matter should critically appraise yesterday’s ‘election’ and take a positively courageous position in a manner that will strengthen democracy in Kaduna state and increase the love, trust and hope that we in the Middle Belt of Kaduna state have for him.
“If not, it is our averred position that what was read by Hajia Hajara Mohammed, KAD-SIECOM Chairman yesterday, if not a manipulation, stands as an annoying charade; an insult to the collective intelligence of our people and big leap into backwardness in Kaduna state. This will be the first time that Kaduna state is experiencing electoral Yahoo Yahoo plus if this stands”, forum stated.
The forum however called on all their members to remain calm, and those few of their members Hajia Hajara announcements seem to favour and are celebrating, to do so with serious caution in view of the controversial nature of yesterday’s exercise.
“If in the end, the said results are made to stand it’s a bad and dangerous omen for 2027 and must all be prepared to resist such ballot robbery.
“All our aggrieved members who paid to contest and spent so much in terms of money and time, should approach all the electoral panels and other judicial windows open for such appeal. No one must take the law into his hands. It’s not in our character”, it concluded.
