Tom Chiahemen
By ANKELI Emmanuel (SOKOTO)
Ahead of the March 11 governorship election, the Sokoto State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), Hon Bello Aliyu Goronyo has appealed to supporters of the party to ensure that they come out en mass to protect their votes against manipulations.
Goronyo, who insisted that, they will no longer seat and watch while the opposition party uses security agencies to rob them of their rights, added that, the time to stand up and defend their votes against all odds has come.
Addressing mammoth crowd of PDP supporters at the International Conference Center, Kasarawa, the State PDP chairman admonished party loyalists to go out prepared to stand by their votes.
Collaborating the position of the State party chairman, the youth leader of the party, Mustapha Binji, said youths and women constitutes the bulk of the voting strength and energy, adding they must therefore strive to ensure that their votes are not tampered with.
Giving his perspective at the party stakeholders meeting, Shetiman Goronyo, said the forthcoming governorship election will be fire for fire.
Expressing her anger over what she described as deliberate connivance with the relevant security agencies in the February 25th presidential election, the State Women Leader of PDP, Hajiya Kulu Rabah admonished women to ensure that no amount of intimidation scares them away from defending there votes.
Speaking for all the local government chairmen, the State ALGON Chairman, Hon Mustapha Shehu promised that there respective localities will be highly protected.
On his part, the State PDP Local Government Chairmen Forum leader, Hon. Ibrahim Maishago said, they are not scared of anybody and are ready to even pay the price for a peaceful election.
He however added that, where the opposite becomes the case, they are equally ready to face the challenge.
Towing the path of their collective resolutions, Hon. Abdulahi Balarabe Salame told PDP stakeholders at the gathering that:
“We are going to frustrate any useless elder that is held bent on destroying our cherished culture, peace and harmonious relationship.
‘We are therefore sending strong warnings to those in that train to be very careful as we are now very aware of their antics. And we are always ready to match them strength for strength, except otherwise, they choose to embrace peaceful conduct which we stands for”‘. Hon. Salame noted.
Delivering the message of PDP governorship candidate, Hon Saidu Umar, through his running mate, Hon. Sagir Bafarawa, revealed various alleged manipulation strategies of the APC which according to him, ranges from disrupting elections in areas considered as PDP strongholds to facilitate cancellations, and falsifying claims that BVAS is faulty”.
The State deputy governor, Manir Dan’Iya accused the APC of using the Nigerian Police, the Army and paid thugs as well to disrupt elections where the PDP is leading.
Recapping the massages passed by the various speakers, the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambueal urged supporters to follow the path of the religion by ensuring that they protect their interest.
“”I am urging all of you to take every necessary measures to ensure that we are not deprived.
“”Arrest anybody causing troubles. Do not leave polling units until your votes are counted and ensure that you follow it to the last point so that they will not be tampered with”‘. Tambuwal advised.
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