A Peoples Democratic Party chairmanship aspirant in Kaduna State, Danjuma Sarki, has condemned the recent state congress election, citing widespread manipulation and rigging.

PUNCH Online reports that a former Commissioner of Water Resources, Edward Masha, was declared the new chairman of the state PDP chapter at the state congress held at the Kaduna Trade and Investment Centre (Trade Fair Complex) on Saturday.

Masha polled 2,123 votes to defeat Sarki who secured 250 votes.

However, addressing journalists at a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat on Sunday, Sarki alleged that delegates were coerced into voting for a particular candidate, contravening the party’s constitution and guidelines.

“The election was a sham, a rape of democracy. Delegates’ tags had preferred candidates’ names written on them, and they were threatened and forced to swear allegiance,” Sarki claimed.

He described the venue as rowdy and disorderly, allowing unauthorised individuals to infiltrate and manipulate the process.

Sarki emphasised that he was not defeated in a free and fair election but was rigged out.

“I didn’t lose, I was cheated. The PDP in Kaduna needs a credible leader to challenge the APC, but yesterday’s election failed to deliver that,” he added.

The aspirant expressed disappointment that the party, despite being in opposition for a decade, failed to conduct a transparent election at the just conducted state congress.

The Kaduna PDP has faced internal conflicts and controversy surrounding its congresses. The party’s national leadership has been urged to intervene and ensure fairness.

Sarki thanked his supporters, campaign team and party leaders who stood by him despite intimidation.

According to him, the PDP’s Kaduna chapter has faced significant challenges, including its defeat in the last gubernatorial election, saying, “No doubt, we are all living witnesses to how PDP was rigged out during the last gubernatorial election in Kaduna State.”

Punch