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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that the All Progressives Comgress (APC) in Zamfara state will not field candidates for the governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly elections in the 2019 general elections.
The ban is a result of the party’s failure to conduct and conclude primaries within the stipulated time given by INEC.
Deadline for all primaries was October 7, 2018.
See INEC’s letter below:
The Zamfara APC governorship primary held last Wednesday generated tension in the state as it was marred by violence and alleged voter intimidation. It was cancelled midway by the then Abubakar A. Fari-led election committee and the cancellation was ratified by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party which also sacked the party’s exco in the state.
However, Governor Yari kicked against the decision, saying the election had to be concluded.
The APC in the state, on Monday, returned Yari’s anointed candidate, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Idris, as governorship candidate and the outgoing governor as senatorial candidate.
INEC’s latest action is an indication that the national headquarters of the party may not have accepted the arrangement and so, did not forward Idris and Yari’s names to the electoral commission.