Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The Borno state gubernatorial aspirant of All Progressive Congress (APC), Idris Mamman Durkwa has yesterday filed a case of alleged primary election irregularities in court. Twenty two aspirants also each purchased the nomination and expression of interest forms at cost of N22.5 million. Some aspirants; who were loyal to the APC ruling administration had to step down for Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum; who scored over 4,000 votes from 5,000 delegates that participated at the recently concluded indirect primaries held at El-Kanemi Sports centre, Maiduguri. The current Minister of State Works, Housing and Power, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, Kashim Imam, Idris Durkwa (the petitioner); who is a brother to Deputy Governor, Usman Durkwa and Ambassador to China, Baba Ahmed Jidda among other aspirants, also boycotted the primary elections. They had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the concluded primaries, alleging that it was not only marred by irregularities, but hijacked by Governor Kashim Shettima. “The Governor deployed all resources to their own detriments to rig the recent primary elections,” alleged Idris Dukwa in the filed petition in court. According to sources in Government House, the aggrieved aspirants have filed petitions to the Appeal Committee of the party in Abuja to express their grievances over the alleged faulted primaries that led to emergence of Prof. Zulum, the elected Borno APC gubernatorial candidate. “With the rising number of petitions filed against emergence of Prof. Zulum and the inability of Shettima to immediately constitute a reconciliatory high-powered committee to settle the dust, it could definitely pose serious political rivalry. “These could also create anti party activities amongst the teeming and factional party supporters, before and during the 2019 general elections,” warned political analysts and some stakeholders. They added: “What is more worrisome, is the tactical denial of Usman Durkwa, to become the running mate of Zulum, after the governor has promised and quoted at different fora that; should any of the aspirants emerged as APC governorship candidate, Durkwa who would be serving for only three years as Deputy for second tenure, would be given an automatic chance to run as Deputy on the same party platform, come 2019” Insinuations were however, ripe that the running mate of Prof. Zulum has been restricted, and must emerge from Biu council, and not from Hawul Local Government Area; where the current deputy governor hails. They are both from the same Biu Emirate Council (BEC) of Borno state. Political analysts and commentators; also viewed this scenario as miscalculations of Governor Shettima, who is the leader of the party. They warned that there could be massive defections from APC to other political parties in Borno state soon, if some of the bottlenecks affecting the party structures were not resolved. According to the petition/suit instituted by one of the aspirants, Idris Durkwa in a Federal High Court holden in Maiduguri between the plaintiff (Idris Durkwa) and the defendants, APC, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the originating summons reads in parts: “That within thirty (30) days after service of this summons on them, inclusive of the date of such service, cause appearance to be entered for them to this summons which is issued upon the application of Alhaji Idris Mamman Gatumbwa of Ungwar Fuloti, Shaffa, Hawul Local Government Area of Borno state. “Gatumbwa claimed that the Borno State APC primary election in which he was an aspirant, first scheduled for 24th September, 2018 and then 29th September, 2018 which was finally held on the 30th September, 2018 was not conducted in accordance with the electoral Act and Constitution of the great party.” Efforts to get reaction from State APC chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori however; proved abortive as he failed to pick calls on the alleged recent primary election irregularities.
