The Special Adviser to Governor Bello Matawalle on Bilateral and Multilateral Relations, Dr. Suleiman Shaibu Shinkafi, has described the March 18 gubernatorial election in Zamfara state, won by PDP, as a political coup.
He said APC will reclaim its mandate in court.
Dr. Suleiman Shaibu Shinkafi told journalists in Kaduna Wednesday that contrary to reports, Governor Matawalle did not concede defeat but only sued for calm to ensure peace and order and allow APC leadership take its decision, following which the party has approached the tribunal to reclaim its mandate.
He said Zamfara state was militiarised during the election, adding that the result of Maradun local government, with over 930,000 voters, was pending and the election in Birnin Magaji was declared inconclusive by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).
Shinkafi said APC was preparing for the rerun polls when the results of the state were declared. He said only three APC collation agents were allowed and others were denied entrance to the collation center by the military while PDP had over 150 agents inside the collation center. All efforts to have their party fully represented, led to himself, Sen. Kabiru Marafa, Sen. Dan Iya, Wamba Shinkafi and other party leaders being sent away with teargas, as they had to run for their lives and carry along those who fell down to safety leaving their vehicles behind.
He said: “I want to notify the world and Nigerians about the coup that took place in Zamfara state during the gubernatorial election, it is assassination of democracy. INEC declared the election in Birnin Magaji inconclusive and the result of Maradun local government with over 930, 000 voters were still pending, the REC Page 14 April 28to collect the result alleging that the result was late. They went to the server to download the result of Birnin Magaji which the REC ammended and signed and we don’t recognise the REC as an agent of APC.”
