National secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the failure of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to conduct governorship primaries in Zamfara State within the stipulated period.
Shinkafi, who is also the governorship candidate of APGA in Zamfara State, stated that going by the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010, the PDP has no governorship candidate for the 2015 general elections in the state.
The electoral guideline and time table released by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) provides that the conduct of all primaries and resolution of disputes arising from the primaries across party lines should be done between October 2 and December 11.
A petition by Shinkafi which was addressed to the chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, stated “that by virtue of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, and election time table published on the 24th of January, 2014 by the Independent National Electoral Commission notifying all the political parties of the schedule for the 2015 general elections in the country, the PDP does not have a governorship candidate in Zamafara State having failed to conduct the said primary for the election of its candidate within the time specified by the commission”.
The petition dated December 11 further read “that the 2015 general elections’ time table indicated that the conduct of party’s primaries, including resolving the problems arising from the said primaries, should commence on the 2nd day of October, 2014 and end on the 11th day of December, 2014. But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Zamfara State chapter, has neglected, failed and refused to elect its governorship candidate who will contest for the forthcoming 2015 general elections within the period as notified by INEC”.
