Opposition political parties in Zamfara State are doing a lot to take advantage of the stalemate in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by intensifying their campaign activities and showcasing their manifestos to the public in the state.
candidate in the state is Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He has been contesting for governorship candidate since 2011. His campaign is premised on job creation for the youths, security and revamping agriculture.
There are many notable people vying for different positions under the platform of APGA and are campaigning alongside the gubernatorial candidate to achieve their aim with all seriousness like never before.
For instance, the candidate vying for Gusau/ Tsafe Federal Constituency on the APGA’s platform, Dr. Abdullahi Maiwada has trained, inducted and empowered 250 youths and women in entrepreneurial development and skills acquisition in different trades as part of his campaign strategy.
Dr. Maiwada said his mission is to have a self reliant and empowered society where poverty is reduced to the barest minimum through skilled based employed youths and women in Zamfara State thereby reducing insecurity and other forms of crimes in the society.
Many other candidates on different political party platforms have geared up their campaign rallies like never before, strongly believing that the crisis in the ruling APC would serve as booster and motivation to them to clinch the positions they are vying for.
The Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) which has Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd) as its presidential candidate is also cashing on the crisis in Zamfara to make an inroad.
Its governorship candidate in the state, Alhaji Bashir Adamu IMAD, has got the endorsement of good number of political parties in the state even though his campaign rally is not as visible as the rest of the opposition parties.
Some of the voters who spoke to said they would still cast their votes during the forthcoming elections despite the fact that the candidates of their choice were not fielded for the elections.
One of the, Kabiru Moriki, said: “To me, APC’s Mukhtar Shehu Idris is the way to go, but in the event his party did not succeed in the court, I will go for Senator Dansadau of NRM. I’m convinced that he too will turn things around if he wins,” said.
But a resident of Gusau, Umar Maru said he is not happy with most of the things happening in Zamfara in recent times.
“I will not participate in the election, this is not because the APC is not fielding candidate, I wont exercise my civic right this time around,” he said.
Sani Aliyu said he would also not participate in the election because a member of the factional aspirants known as G- 8, that is the Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala could not make it as the APC’s candidate.
“It is my conviction that had that man who is my choice made it, I would definitely vote for him because he will deliver on his promises,” he said.
“It is not about political party but the credibility and acceptability of the contestants,” he added.
Abubakar Abubakar said he has confidence in Dansadau. “I will go and cast my vote for him,” he said. APC not deterred However, despite all its travails in the courts and the reluctance of INEC to recognize its candidates, the APC in the state is till holding campaign rallies.
Leaders of the party said they are banking on the Zamfara High Court judgement which ruled in their favour and directed INEC to recognize their candidates, including Governor Abdulaziz Yari who is rounding up his second term and now contesting for the Senate.
The October 7 party’s primary elections were mired in controversy. Eight governorship aspirants known as group 8 ganged up to challenge the decision of Governor Yari to anoint his Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Idris as his successor.
The group of 8 include Senator Kabiru Marafa, the state Deputy Gov. Wakkala Muhammad, the Minister of Defence, Brigadier Gen. Mansur Dan Ali (rtd) and Alhaji Sagir Hamidu Gusau.
Others are former Gov. Shinkafi, Alhaji Abu Magaji, a federal lawmaker representing Kaura Namoda/ BirninMagaji Constituency; Alhaji Sani Jaji and Alhaji Dauda Lawal Dare.
Following the crisis in the Zamfara APC, its leaders failed to submit list of candidates on time and on the expiration of the dateline, INEC said it will not accept any list.
The APC then challenged INEC a High Court in Gusau and a judgement was delivered in the party’s favour last January.
But another High Court in Abuja countered, saying there was no primary election in Zamfara. An appeal is now pending and only the outcome will determine how the impasse will be resolved.