· Accuse APC of manipulating process
By Sarah NEGEDU
The emergence of Abuzarri Sulaiman Ribadu, as candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, for the 2023 AMAC/Bwari House of Assembly election, has not gone down well with other aspirants who have described his emergence as fraudulent and an outright disregard for the electoral process.
Though Ribadu was declared winner of the primaries, weekend, some aggrieved aspirants alleged that the process was manipulated in his favour.
They alleged that the election was moved from the MKO Abiola Stadium, initial venue of the primaries, to Sheraton Hotel where a “feigned” election was conducted, and Ribadu was declared winner.
The APC candidate recently resigned his appointment as a Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister to participate in the process.
He polled 60 votes in the late night election to beat his closest rival, Solomon Dagami (Abuga) who got 31 votes.
Though aspirants like the incumbent chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, Abdullahi Candido, and Dr. Lazarus Gaza, withdrew from the race before votes were cast, they both secured one and two votes, respectively.
Some of the aspirants while reacting to what they believe to be aborted party primaries, expressed dissatisfaction with the entire process insisting that it was a slight on democracy.
A former Director of Human Resource Management with Federal Capital Territory Administration, Dr. Lazarus Gaza, said he withdrew from the race because the primaries were aborted without due process of involving party delegates.
Gaza, however, expressed his commitment towards serving the party diligently if given the opportunity.
On her part, a female aspirant, Mariam Mohammed, said she was shocked with the sudden announcement of results without any primary, lamenting that it was an imposition.
Solomon Dagami, who is a former council secretary in Bwari Area Council, urged the leadership of the party in the FCT to follow due process in conducting free fair and credible party primaries for internal democracy to thrive.
Meanwhile, AMAC chairman, Abdullahi Adamu Candido, who was also an aspirant, said his withdrawal from the race was to avoid issues that will cause disunity in the party.
Candido, however, maintained that he remains a loyal member of the APC.
Abuzarri Ribadu was appointed Senior Special Assistant (Special Duties) to the FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, in November 2021.
The ministerial aide, who was also a former member of the Adamawa State Assembly, reportedly tendered his resignation weeks ago to pursue his political ambition of becoming a federal lawmaker come 2023.
