….threatens to shift loyalty to APC at guber poll
The people of Southern Kaduna have vowed to allign with another party and possibly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), if the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will not explain to them what led to the woeful performance of the party in the northern part of the state during the presidential election.
Southern Kaduna people who spoke through Coalition of Southern Kaduna Nationalities (CSKN) lamented that, none of the PDP’s bigwigs from Kaduna north, including former Governors Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru and Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi could deliver their respective local governments areas to the PDP during the presidential and national assembly polls.
Towards this end, the CSKN said, an ultimatum of 24 hours is issued to the PDP and the party bigwigs in question to respond accordingly, or may be left with no option than to shift their loyalty to another party that will take care of their aspirations and yearnings in the zone.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Saturday, the leader of CSKN Dr. Yusuf Gandu Magaji said, “the Southern Kaduna Nationalities are disenchanted by the voting pattern as revealed by the results from Zone 1. We believe that there is a betrayal of confidence and trust along the party (PDP) stalwarts in Zone 1 who can no longer be trusted.
“The pattern of the results of the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections conducted on the 23rd February. 2019 leaves much to be desired. The results from Kaduna North caused a shock to the Southern Kaduna Nationalities and instigated a rethink in our longstanding marriage and commitment to the opposition party, PDP.
“The result shows that PDP won overwhelming in the Southern Senatorial Zone. This stresses a fact that, the zone remained faithful and voted for the party en-mass. However, in a sharp contrast, the party performed woefully in Zone 1 as their loyalty was shifted to APC.
“The key issue here is that most of the party heavy weights and those who benefitted during the PDP’s reign concentrate in Zone 1, yet they failed to deliver their wards to the party. We view this as a betrayal of the Presidential candidate in contrast to the bond which questions our continuous loyalty to the party.
“We are forced to re-examine our commitment to the party. As such, we can no longer guarantee our votes in the gubernatorial elections at the moment by virtue of the insincerity and inconsistency in Zone 1.
“The CSKN demands from Zone 1 a concrete and convincing explanation within 24 hours as a matter of urgency, on why Zone 3 should not negotiate with another variable political party for the governorship elections.
“Failure to respond within this time frame will make us to begin negotiations with the party of our choice that can be trusted. We have capacity to turn our votes elsewhere overnight, especially to a candidate that can honour agreements.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we have already set up a team of young, vibrant and dynamic but promising citizens to begin the process of negotiation should the PDP fails in convincing us otherwise. This team of young men chosen is by virtue of their social standing, progressive tendencies, patriotism and commitment to the geopolitical Zone”.
When asked about the party they have in mind, CSKN said, they will consider every other political party, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). (The Nation)
