By Our Correspondent
National News – An All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives aspirant for Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency in Katsina State, Ahmed Saleh, has alleged manipulation in the party’s primary election held on Saturday, claiming his mandate was altered despite repeated consensus endorsement by stakeholders.
He said he was twice endorsed during consensus exercises conducted by party stakeholders from Mani and Bindawa local government areas before the ticket was eventually given to another aspirant, Hajiya Jamila Abdu-Mani.
Saleh alleged that some aggrieved aspirants petitioned Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, accusing stakeholders of exclusion and bribery claims against him, which he strongly denied.
He further explained that a second consensus exercise involved open voting by stakeholders, where 25 of 27 reportedly supported him by raising their hands, while two were absent.
Despite this, he said the outcome was overturned, and the party later handed the ticket to Jamila Mani, who he claimed received no support during both consensus exercises.
He also alleged being placed under house arrest and briefly detained by security operatives on the day of the primaries, which he described as an attempt to stop him from participating.
He dismissed the eventual direct primary election result, alleging that the process lacked transparency and that inflated vote figures were announced despite low attendance at the venue.
However, the governor’s media aide, Maiwada Dammalla, rejected the allegations, stating that governors do not control the Department of State Services (DSS), a federal security agency.
He urged journalists to seek clarification from the DSS, insisting that only the agency can confirm any arrest or detention claims.
The aspirant maintained loyalty to the APC and said he would submit to the party’s reconciliation committee led by former Governor Aminu Bello Masari.
He questioned the fairness of the process and called for internal party reforms to strengthen transparency ahead of future elections in Katsina State.
