KKey points
Former APC House of Representatives aspirant, Ahmed Saleh, alleges he was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) to stop him from participating in the Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency primary in Katsina State.
He claims the alleged detention was carried out on the directive of Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda.
Saleh says he was held throughout the duration of the primary and only released after voting and collation had ended.
The APC primary was won by Hajiya Jamila Abdu Mani, who polled 24,989 votes, while Saleh secured 1,256 votes.
The governor’s media aide has dismissed the allegations, insisting that governors cannot direct security agencies such as the DSS.
Main story
A former aspirant for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency in Katsina State, Ahmed Saleh, has alleged that he was detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) to prevent him from participating in the party’s primary election.
Saleh made the allegation shortly after the controversial primary election held under the All Progressives Congress, where official results declared Hajiya Jamila Abdu Mani the winner with a wide margin.
The result was announced by the Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee for the constituency, Shafi’u Abdu Duwan, who confirmed Mani’s victory over Saleh.
According to Saleh, however, he was unable to take part in the exercise because he was allegedly taken into custody and held until the process was concluded.
He maintained that what was presented as a direct primary in the constituency was not fairly conducted due to his absence.
The issues
The central dispute revolves around Saleh’s allegation that his detention was politically motivated and intended to influence the outcome of the APC primary election.
He argued that his inability to participate rendered the exercise unfair and amounted to a denial of his political rights within the party structure.
The allegations also raise questions about the involvement of security agencies in electoral processes and the credibility of internal party primaries.
What’s being said
“I got the shock of my life. DSS operatives came and accosted me to the state headquarters on the instructions of His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda that I should be arrested and detained and never allowed to go to Mani Local Government where the primary election was to take place”, Saleh said.
“It turned into a gathering of selected individuals who later announced results in favour of the governor’s aide”, Saleh added.
“It defies logic therefore for the aggrieved aspirant to accuse His Excellency, Governor Radda of his purported arrest or detention by the DSS.” — Maiwada Dammallam, Media aide to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda
“Governors are not constitutionally empowered to exercise authority over security agencies, the DSS in this regard”, Maiwada Dammallam stated.
What’s next
The allegations are likely to intensify scrutiny within the APC over the conduct of its primaries in Katsina State.
Further clarification from the DSS may be necessary to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged detention.
The party is expected to face continued internal debate as stakeholders assess the credibility of the exercise.
Bottom line
While the APC has declared a winner for the Mani/Bindawa primary, Ahmed Saleh’s allegations of detention and exclusion have cast a shadow over the process, leaving the dispute politically unresolved.
