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Members and Supporters of All Progressives Congress (APC) in their hundreds at Dustinma/Kurfi Federal Constituency have staged a peaceful protest at the party’s Local Government secretariat in Dutsinma to express their displeasure over the poor outcome of just concluded party primary elections which according to them was grossly manipulated.
The protesters comprising both male and female were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions like, “we need justice from APC Dutsinma Kurfi constituency, we need Hon. Danlami Muhammad Kurfi as our candidate in 2019, no justice no vote” , etc. The demonstrators maintained that due process had not been followed or adhered to during the conduct of the primary election in the State.
Reacting to the sheer political anomaly, one of the protesters who gave her name as Hajiya Sakina Dutsinma said they will not agree with the position taken by APC during the just concluded primary elections held in Dutsinma,
“Danlami Muhammad Kurfi is the right candidate for APC to win 2019 general election at the constituency because of his active and fair representation to the constituency especially in the areas of implementing various youth and women empowerment, welfare packages, provision of employment opportunities, scholarship among youth as well as the introduction of health care related programs for the less privileged and other vulnerable groups at the constituency including sickle cell patients” she said
She added that presently there are lots of sickle cell patients who are already of the fear that if Danlami Muhammad Kurfi is not re-elected they may find it difficult to cope with the prevailing high cost of medical bills in the hospitals which Dallami Kurfi has been responsible for, in the last few years.
Also reacting in the same vein was one Alin Magu who said if Danlami Kurfi is not allowed to be the party flag bearer, the party will be faced with massive protest votes during the forthcoming general election and this from all indications could lead to the party’s defeat in the general election, as a result of internal democracy which is lacking in the party.
Also in a separate protest letter, a group known as Coalition Of Dutsinma and Kurfi Youth Mobilization forum signed by its Chairman, Abubakar Masi Dutsinma which was made available to newsmen rejected the outcome of just concluded primary election for Dutsinma/Kurfi Federal constituency
The youths who are seeking redress from the APC national leadership affirmed that the election was not credible, neither was it transparent or free and fair, and was flagrantly against the wishes and interest of the people of Dutsinma and Kurfi Federal constituency
The Forum further accused some unproductive and undemocratic forces within the government of Katsina state for manipulating the election which violated the internal democracy within APC.
They cited lots of irregularities during the conduct of the primary elections especially instances where delegates who are loyal to Danlami Kurfi and other aspirants were said to be disenfranchised and not even allowed to reach the venue of the primary election.
Other irregularities according to them which was brought to the fore included no party representation from the National headquarters and those who conducted the elections are not officials of the party, change of venue, election observers and media were also not allowed at the venue to record this unlawful activities.
Other complaints by the Coalition included change of date and time of the elections and flagrant abuse of APC guidelines in which local government transition committee Chairman and his special assistance, the state Commissioner of Finance voted during the election and they visibly played active roles in the manipulation process.
The Forum therefore called on APC both at State and National level to quickly address the allege injustices or risk losing the general elections to opposition parties.
However, when APC Chairman Dutsinma and Katsina Zonal Vice Chairman, Mamman Yaro Batsari and the state chairman were contacted they agreed that there irregularities in the conduct of the primary and admitted that if the crises are not addressed it may lead to disunity in the party. Although they appealed to all aggrieved members requesting for more time to respond to the issues in the interest of the party.
