An aspirant seeking to contest the Borno Central Senatorial District by-election on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Umar Mohammed Goni, has petitioned the national leadership of the party over ‘irregularities’ in the primaries conducted on September 21, 2015.
Mr Goni, who spoke to reporters in Abuja yesterday, said that he had submitted his petition to the national leadership of the party for consideration and cancelation of the PDP primaries in the senatorial district.
The aspirant claimed that Alhaji Umar Kaleri, the zonal chairman in the senatorial district, participated in the primaries without purchasing the expression of interest and nomination forms.
He also claimed that Kaleri partook in the primaries without appearing before the screening committee set up by the party in Abuja.
Goni further claimed in the petition that Kaleri did not resign as stipulated by the guidelines from his position as Zonal Vice Chairman, Borno Central Senatorial District, before participating in the primaries, stressing that he influenced the selection of delegates for the primaries.
The aspirant, therefore, threatened to seek redress in court if the national leadership of the party failed to address the issue.
“The ineligibility of Alhaji Kaleri to participate in the primaries indicates a sign of indiscipline/corruption within the Borno State chapter of the PDP while the opposition at the national level is talking about eliminating indiscipline and corruption in the nation. This might be an ominous sign threatening the party’s success ahead of the 2015 senatorial by-election.
“Mr. Chairman Sir, by citing these irregularities discovered in the primary election, the party should declare that the primaries conducted by the PDP in Borno State was in clear violation of the electoral Act and outcome of the said primaries voided. We await for a favourable response within five working days or seek legal redress from a competent court of law”, he added.
The Borno Central Senatorial District seat in the National Assembly became vacant following the death of All Progressives Congress Senator, Ahmed Zannah in May.
The APC conducted its primaries last month, which was won by a former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs in Borno State, Kaka Bashir Garbai.
The by-election has been slated for this month.
