Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna, widely recognized as Sarkin Sharifai and an aspirant for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, has denounced the party’s recently conducted primary election, calling it a travesty of democratic processes and a rigged affair.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Peter Ewu, the former NASENI Executive Vice Chairman expressed strong disapproval of how the primaries were handled. The election committee, led by Professor Theodore Maiyaki (SAN), declared Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada as the winner.
Rejecting the announced outcome, Haruna alleged that the exercise was marred by widespread fraud, disenfranchisement of voters, and deliberate manipulation of vote counts to benefit a predetermined candidate. He claimed that individuals loyal to the government-backed aspirant were deployed as electoral officials across multiple local government areas, undermining the integrity of the vote.
“In my own ward, no electoral officials or voting materials were provided, which prevented me and many other party members from casting our ballots,” Haruna disclosed. He added that in several locations, supporters waited from dawn until late evening for officials who never arrived, leading to frustration and the denial of their right to vote.
Reports of intimidation, harassment, and disruptions by certain individuals during the primaries were also highlighted by the aspirant, who noted that these actions created an atmosphere of fear and confusion at many polling stations.
Haruna asserted that his allegations are substantiated by video evidence, photographs, reports, and testimonies from party stakeholders and independent observers across Nasarawa State. “Anyone with a conscience and a sense of accountability before God must reject these results. In most wards, what occurred was merely the allocation of figures. This is an insult to democracy and a betrayal of the electoral process,” he stated.
He accused party leaders of denying members their constitutional right to freely choose their candidate, describing the entire process as a charade conducted with impunity. The APC chieftain urged the party’s National Secretariat to annul the primaries and organize fresh, transparent, and credible elections in line with democratic principles.
Despite his grievances, Haruna affirmed that he and his supporters remain committed to peace, political maturity, and democratic engagement as the 2027 general elections approach. He called on his followers to stay calm, law-abiding, and avoid violence while seeking redress for the alleged injustice. “Politics should never become a source of hatred, division, or violence among our people,” he added.
The governorship aspirant also revealed that he has initiated extensive consultations with supporters, political associates, elders, youth and women groups, community leaders, and other stakeholders both within and outside Nasarawa State. These consultations, he said, are aimed at evaluating the current political situation and determining the most appropriate course of action for the benefit of his supporters and the people of Nasarawa. “At the conclusion of these consultations, we will formally announce our next political direction and position to the public,” he concluded.