Alhaji Dasuki Nakande, the former Minister of State for Communication, has argued that the postponement of the local government primaries in Jos North and Wase LGAs, as implemented by the Jang administration, was a travesty to democracy and ploy by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led state government to avoid disgrace in the polls. Speaking to newsmen yesterday, the former Minister, who also doubles as the Plateau State Caretaker Committee Secretary of All Progressive Congress (APC), said the suspension of the primaries in the two councils which are considered to be APC strongholds was done with an insincere motive, because there is every possibility that PDP may not win those areas.

Alhaji Dasuki Nakande, the former Minister of State for Communication, has argued that the postponement of the local government primaries in Jos North and Wase LGAs, as implemented by the Jang administration, was a travesty to democracy and ploy by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led state government to avoid disgrace in the polls. Speaking to newsmen yesterday, the former Minister, who also doubles as the Plateau State Caretaker Committee Secretary of All Progressive Congress (APC), said the suspension of the primaries in the two councils which are considered to be APC strongholds was done with an insincere motive, because there is every possibility that PDP may not win those areas.

He confirmed that in view of this draconian policy by PLSG, APC had commenced procedures to challenge this undemocratic policy directive in court. Stating that the statement issued for the cancellation of the polls in the two areas -i.e., as issued by the secretary to the state government, Prof. Shedrach Best contained threats to political parties, in a bid to railroad them into the governments agenda by creating an atmosphere of fear. He said, “the suspension of the primaries in the local government was unconstitutional and amounts to unnecessary victimisation and injustice on the part of the electorate, who wish to exercise their mandate in electing whoever they wish”. He then went on to confirm that they (APC) have already written a protest letter to the State Electoral Commission, because political stakeholders in the state were not consulted and provided with the reason why the primaries were suspended in the two local government areas.

It would be recalled that approximately a week ago, the Plateau State government in a signed statement by it secretary to the state government, Professor Shedrach Best, confirmed that it would suspend primaries in Wase and Jos North Local Government Areas because of security reports.

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Former Minister, Alh. Dasuki Nakande berates PLSG over cancellation of LG polls in Jos North and Wase