The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Bashir Jibrin Jaji, was on Saturday taken away by angry youths protesting the outcome of the House of Representatives primary in Igabi Federal Constituency.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the youths accused party leaders and officials of manipulating the exercise. The primary was contested between Sani Abdulkadir Dakaci and Hussaini Jalo.
Some supporters alleged that there was no proper accreditation or counting before Jalo was announced the winner.
A video circulating on social media showed Jaji being forced into a waiting vehicle after the disputed exercise.
One party member, Musa Salihu, who spoke with Daily Trust, said supporters had queued up for the exercise but were not counted.
“We lined up but nobody counted us. Suddenly, they came out and announced that Jalo had won the election. That is not democracy because no election was conducted,” he said.
Another supporter, Musbahu Idris, said members had waited at the designated collection centre since 6 am.
“We were surprised to hear that Jalo had been declared winner. No election took place because we were never told voting would happen at the party office,” he stated.
A supporter of the APC chairman, Haruna Sani, however, insisted that a valid primary was conducted and that Jalo won.
“The youths alleged injustice, but that is not the case. We tried to prevent them from attacking the party chairman when they came to the office, but they overpowered us and assaulted him before taking him away in a vehicle,” he said.