Re-Run Elections: Zamfara PDP Alleges APC, IGP Over Plan to Arrest Members

The Zamfara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, of planning to harass and arrest its members ahead of the supplementary elections scheduled for Saturday, April 15th, 2023. The party expressed concern over the alleged interference of the Inspector General of Police in the politics of Zamfara State, claiming that the governor is using his alleged friendship with the Inspector General of Police to intimidate key PDP members.

The PDP made these allegations in a statement issued by the Dauda Lawal Media Office on Wednesday in Gusau. According to the statement, the PDP accused the Inspector General of Police of taking sides in the political issues of the state and plotting to use the police force to harass and detain PDP members.

It is noteworthy that the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled supplementary elections for all outstanding Governorship, National, and State Assembly seats nationwide, including a re-run for the Zamfara Central Senatorial seats and two seats of the House of Representatives. The PDP’s accusations against the Inspector General of Police raise concerns about the neutrality and fairness of law enforcement agencies in the electoral process.

The statement read in parts: “We are seriously worried by the sinister motive of the outgoing Zamfara state governor, Bello Matawalle, to politicize the activities of the Nigeria Police using his connection and friendship with the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.

“Nigerians were aware of how the state governor connived with the Inspector General of Police to manipulate the concluded governorship election in Zamfara. Special forces were deployed from Abuja to Gusau purposely to disrupt the announcement of the final result. The INEC returning officer of Maradun LGA was abducted by the police and was taken to the government house.

“If anyone needs to be arrested for committing electoral offences, we believe that the outgoing governor, his aides, and government house police should be topping the list.

“On this note, we want to pass a vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police for his persistent interference in Zamfara politics. The law has categorically stated how aggrieved persons or losers in an election would channel their grievances. The Nigerian police have nothing to do with pre-election or post-election cases.

“To our surprise, key leaders of the PDP in Zamfara received an invitation letter from the office of the Inspector General of Police on trumped-up charges of criminal conspiracy to rig/compromise the 2023 general elections.

“This is the height of unprofessionalism exhibited by the Inspector General of Police, and we categorically frown at it. We believe that the invitation is a move by the IGP to harass and intimidate critical players of the Zamfara PDP into preventing them from participating in the rerun slated for Saturday, 15th April.

“We are raising the alarm for the general public to be aware of the situation in Zamfara and the likelihood of using the police to clampdown on our party leaders and, most importantly, to disrupt the Saturday rerun. They are fully aware that the PDP will win the central senatorial and the remaining two seats of representatives, so they are hellbent on trying to create chaos.

“Among the PDP leaders illegally invited by the Inspector General of Police are Alhaji Garba Ahmad Yandi, Alhaji Kabiru Ahmadu; Alhaji Yusuf Daha Tsafe; Alhaji Ibrahim Modibbo;  Alhaji Zahradeen Ibrahim; Alhaji Musa Mallaha; Alhaji Sambo A. Sambo; Hajiya Lubnah Baba Gusau and many others.

“The people targeted are party leaders from the affected areas where the Saturday rerun will occur. This further exposed the clandestine motive of the Nigerian police boss.

“We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Inspector General of Police to order. We also call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and international observers to closely monitor the happenings in Zamfara state.”

See attached letters below…