By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
One of the leading Peoples Democratic Party Chairmanship Aspirants, who withdrew his contest amidst the ongoing Congress on Saturday, Comrd Danjuma Sarki, said the Party’s future in the State is bleak.
Sarki bore his mind while addressing a press conference at the Kaduna State Union of Journalists Secretariat (NUJ) held on Sunday, citing constitutional abuse at the just concluded party Congress that ushered in new officials in the State.
Recall that former Commissioner for Water Resources in Kaduna State, Mr Edward Masha, on Sunday emerged as the new Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Mr Tanko Beiji, the State Returning Officer, announced the results on Sunday at the Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex, the venue of the PDP Congress.
Sarki said: “What happened at the State Congress of PDP in Kaduna yesterday was nothing, but a rape of democracy, and an abuse of the constitution and guidelines for the conduct of state congresses of the PDP by anti-democratic forces who are bent on keeping our part out of power, hence the reason for my walk out before the end of the voting exercise.
“I am here today to express my sadness and grief over the charade of an election conducted by the Kaduna Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where due process was murdered for selfish interest as against the interest of the members of the party.
“What happened at the trade fair complex, the venue of the State Congress yesterday, was nothing but a fraud, and it was in contravention of the constitution and guidelines for the conduct of Ward, Local Government Areas, State, Zonal Congresses, and the National Convention of the Party.
“The mode of the election was to be an open-secret ballot in conformity with the constitution and guidelines for the conduct of elections of our great party; the PDP, but instead, some elements within the party who do not wish the party well, especially in Kaduna state manipulated the process, as against the constitution and guidelines of our great party, the PDP”.
Sarki maintained that he was not defeated in a free, fair, and credible election, adding, “I was rigged out, being the reason for this Press Conference to put the record straight, and to make it known to the public that the election (State Congress) was not transparent, and did not go in the manner it should be.
“It is very unfortunate that despite being in the opposition for about a decade and suffered three consecutive defeats in the gubernatorial elections, the leadership of the party could not see reason to conduct a free, fair, and credible election that would usher in a credible leader with the required capacity to wrest power from the ruling APC in Kaduna state come 2027.
“No doubt, we are all living witnesses to how PDP was rigged out during the last gubernatorial election in Kaduna state, and if the leaders had come out in their numbers just like they did against me yesterday to manipulate the process of the election, PDP would not have been in the opposition in Kaduna state today”.
He, however, expressed gratitude to his campaign team for a fantastic job, including delegates who, against all odds, voted for him.
He said: “Those who also wanted to vote for me, but were denied, and leaders of the party who supported me despite the threat and the intimidation.
“Let me also acknowledge the members of the PDP who so much believe in my capacity to transform PDP, as well as the people of Kaduna state who were expectant of a new vision in PDP in Kaduna state, and not forgetting my family members and friends who stood by me throughout the processes”.
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