2019: Again, INEC says APC can’t field candidates for Zamfara

There is no going back on the decision to bar the All Progressives Congress (APC) from fielding candidates for the 2019 general elections in Zamfara State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC’s stand came just as the ruling party which appeared ruffled by the likely fate that may befall it in the 2019 elections in Zamfara State is making frantic effort to sort out things.

Mr. Osaze Uzzi, Director of Publicity and Voter Education of the commission said it had not changed its position despite the protestation by the APC.

 “We still stand by our earlier position,” said Uzzi when asked when if the commission has changed its position based on the letter from APC.

INEC had on Monday declared APC ineligible to field candidates for all elective positions in Zamfara State in the 2019 election on the basis that it did not hold primaries in the state before the expiration of the stipulated deadline.

The position of INEC was contained in a leaked letter to the APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, on Tuesday.

However, the party on Wednesday, replied INEC, claiming that primary elections actually took place in Zamfara State.

In the letter dated October 10th and signed by Oshiomhole, the party said INEC did not capture the true situation of the APC primaries in Zamfara State.

In the INEC’s letter titled, “Failure to conduct party primaries in Zamfara State within the stipulated time-frame,” the commission said APC failed to conduct its primary elections in Zamfara within the stipulated time-frame”.

In its submissions to INEC, APC said, “The contents of your letter seem to conclude that no primaries were conducted by the APC in Zamfara State. We wish to state emphatically that nothing can be farther from the actual situation in Zamfara State.”