From Ahmad Saka,Bauchi
Some supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State have rejected alleged moves to impose a governorship candidate ahead of the party’s primary election, insisting on a transparent, credible and competitive process.
The party stakeholders made their position known on Thursday during a visit to the hotel where the APC electoral committee was reportedly lodged, seeking clarification on the conduct and postponement of the governorship primary.
An APC stakeholder, Musa Buba , popularly known as “Civilian General,” said members would not accept any attempt by a few individuals to impose a candidate on the party.
He said that democracy must reflect the will of party members rather than the interests of a select few.
“We are here to register our grievances because democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, not a government designed for a selected few,” he said.
Buba said APC supporters in Bauchi were demanding a free, fair and credible primary that would produce a candidate widely accepted by party members and the electorate.
He said that although the primary election was earlier postponed from Thursday to Friday, members remained hopeful that the rescheduled exercise would be conducted in a transparent manner.
appealed to the leadership of the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure fairness and justice in the process.
Buba said the postponement of primaries in Bauchi and Kwara States had generated suspicion among party members, raising concerns over possible manipulation.
“Why was the election postponed? There must be reasons behind it. Other states conducted their primaries, but Bauchi and Kwara were postponed. That is why many people are beginning to suspect foul play,” he said.
He said that party members were informed of the postponement and insisted that only a credible process would sustain trust in the party.similay thousands of APC supporters from the 221 wards staged rally in Bauchi in support of Nura Manu gubernatorial ambition and called for the Governorship primary election committee to make available voting materials and conduct fee fair and credible Primary election .
Addressing the mammoth crowd wo Directors in Nura Manu campaign organisation Awwalu Baba Jada and Imrana Hassan asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and National Chairman of APC professor Nentawe to compel the electoral committee toake available all needed election materials in the 224 electoral ward in the State.
Directors said, supporters were confident that aspirant Nura Manu Soro would emerge victorious if a level playing field was guaranteed.
The Directors said that the APC must uphold internal democracy, noting that President Tinubu himself emerged through a competitive electoral process.
“The President emerged through the ballot, not through consensus. That is the same democratic process we are demanding here in Bauchi,” he stated.
They gathering was peraceful, it was a crowd of unity and peace and seeking for the leadership to conduct free fair Governorship Primary election.
Another party member, Comrade Abdul’Aziz Nasrullah, also called for a transparent process, saying Bauchi deserved credible candidates who genuinely represent the interests of the people.
He warned against imposition, alleging that such practices could undermine unity within the party.
Both stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to the APC but insisted that justice, transparency and fairness must be upheld in the governorship primary election in Bauchi State.
