Zamfara LG Poll: APC drags ZASIEC to court over short notice

The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Gusau, challenging the actions of the Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC) for allegedly violating legal requirements by issuing only a 30-day notice, rather than the mandated three-month notice, to political parties ahead of the local council elections.

APC State Publicity Secretary Yusuf Idris revealed this during a press briefing in Gusau, following a State Working Committee meeting where the APC denounced what it termed a “serious injustice” by the PDP, claiming it deprives citizens of their constitutional right to participate in electing local council chairpersons and councillors.

He argued that a 30-day notice is insufficient for political parties to conduct essential pre-election activities, including selling expression of interest and nomination forms, screening candidates, holding primaries, addressing appeals or complaints, and organizing campaigns to engage voters.

“The state government which swore in the commission’s chairman, Bala Aliyu Gusau on the 14/10/2024, the chairman immediately after taking the oath of office and oath of allegiance announced a date for the local government election without even reporting to the office”

“He announced a date as directed by governor Dauda Lawal to organize the council polls in such a way to hold on 16/11/2024 within 30 days from the date he was sworn- in without recourse to the constitutional provision that political parties should be given three months election notice to enable them sales party expression of interest and nominations forms, screen candidates, conduct party primaries, attend to appeals on complaints, organize/carryout campaigns and prepare for the election which is not possible to execute within the announced unconstitutional time frame of just one month, given by the state government”

Idris described the action as an attempt by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to deny candidates of other political parties their rights to participate in the local Government election in Zamfara State.

The APC then revealed that it has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Gusau, to challenge the illegality of the ZASIEC, and ensure the right thing is done for the interest of all people of the State.

“Already, we have filed our case at a Federal High Court, Gusau, to seek redress over this clear injustice with the strong belief that the right thing will ultimately be done.”

It alleged that the PDP was poised to subvert democracy and the will of the people by appointing certain persons to lead the local governments.

Meanwhile, the opposition All Progressives Congress APC has welcomed into its folk the member of the House of Representatives representing Bukkuyum/Gummi constituency in the National Assembly, Suleiman Abubakar Gummi who recently defected from the ruling PDP to the APC.

“Let me also, on behalf of our great party, warmly welcome the member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Engineer Suleiman Abubakar Gummi to the APC having decamped from the PDP which he formally announced before the Honourable Speaker of House of Representatives and other Honourable members during plenary on Wednesday, at the National Assembly.”

“We want to assure the Honourable member along with his teeming supporters that they will be accorded all the rights and privileges like any other member as the APC is honoured to have him come with his wealth of experience and overwhelming supporters to further boost the good image of the party.”

The party said it would organise a reception where they would receive him in Gummi and assured him that it would give him and his supporters all the rights which members of the APC are enjoying in the party.