Police disrupt Kwankwasiya, PDP primary election in Kano
Police in Kano, on Monday, prevented Kwankwasiyya-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding a parallel primary election.
The Kwankwasiyya supporters converged at Lugard House, secretariat of the movement, for election but were denied access into the building by armed men of the Nigeria Police Force.
Police barricaded the two entries into the Lugard residence with Hilux vans while seven other police vans were stationed around Marhaba centre, a venue the group intended to use as an alternative.
The State Chairman, Senator Mas’ud El-Jibril Doguwa, said unless the party’s national headquarters gives new directives, there would be no primary election in Kano State.
According to him, those trying to hold the primary, are violating laid down rules and procedures of the party for conducting legal primary.
He said that before a primary election is conducted in a state, a committee must be set up and the committee must meet with all aspirants and inform them the modalities it adopts.
He, however, lamented that such committee was never formed and there was no meeting between those vying for political offices and members of the committee.
He also noted that the committee when constituted, is saddled with the responsibility of informing the DSS, Police, INEC and the state party chairman about arrangements made so far for the primary election, but no such move has been made.
Reacting to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Magaji Musa Majia, said the police were only complying with a court order that stopped the PDP from conducting primaries and any other political activities in the state.
He warned those trying to cause political disturbances in the state through such move to refrain from doing so as the police are ready and would exercise its judicial powers in ensuring law and order in the state.
