Suspected Thugs disrupt APC primary in Zamfara

The senatorial primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, turned violent on Monday following an attack by suspected political thugs on polling centres, including one near the Emir’s Palace.

The thugs attacked Namoda Model Primary School and the Galadima Dangaladima Ward polling unit in front of the Emir’s Palace, disrupting the electoral process and forcing voters and other residents to flee for safety.

The incidents triggered panic in the affected areas as voters abandoned the polling centres amid the violence.

Some suspected political thugs were also engaged in physical fight among themselves, leaving one person seriously injured.

Before the arrival of the thugs, one of the voters, identified as Malam Sanusi Kaura, had alerted the Daily Trust correspondent to their possible arrival.

“I came to inform you, as a journalist and the voice of the voiceless, that we have received information that the thugs are on their way to disrupt the process,” he said.

The attack disrupted activities at the polling centres as voters waited for the arrival of INEC officials, who had yet to arrive as of 11:30 a.m.

The two aspirants for the senatorial seat, the incumbent Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura, who belongs to the camp of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura, from the camp of Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, are both from the same political ward, Galadima Dangaladima, in Kaura Namoda metropolis.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Kaura Namoda Local Government, Hon. Mannir Muhammad Haidara, narrowly escaped being lynched after suspected thugs attacked his vehicle at Namoda Model Primary School, damaging parts of it.

The attackers later moved to the Galadima Dangaladima polling unit near the Emir’s Palace, where they disrupted activities and the chanting of slogans by supporters.

The supporters were chanting slogans calling for the return of Senator Sahabi Ya’u to the Senate for a fifth term when the violence erupted.

The incidents created panic in the affected areas, with polling activities disrupted.

As of the time of filing this report, INEC officials had yet to arrive at Kyanbarawa, Kasuwar Daji, Maguru and Kaura Namoda, according to findings by the Daily Trust correspondent who visited the areas.

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