Tension as suspected thugs storm APC primary in Zamfara

The senatorial primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, erupted into violence on Monday after an attack by political thugs on polling centers, which included the Namoda Model Primary School and Galadima Dangaladima Ward polling unit situated in front of the Emir’s Palace.

The thugs launched an assault on the above-named polling centers, interrupting the voting process and prompting the electorate to seek refuge from the danger.

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 our 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 our correspondent who visited the areas.