The backdated results were meant for Edu, Kaiama, Baruteen, Ilorin South, and Ilorin East government areas of the state.
The results of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) primary elections for the upcoming Kwara State council elections showed a different date than the day the election was held.
SaharaReporters learnt that the party held its primary election across the state's 16 local government areas this July. However, some documents containing the winners' names released by the party were dated April 2024, which is three months before the election.
The backdated results were meant for Edu, Kaiama, Baruteen, Ilorin South, and Ilorin East government areas of the state.
However, other documents released by the party which showed the winners of the primary elections in Moro and Patigi local government areas were accurately dated.
The perceived irregularity by the party’s leadership in the state has made the residents to attack the credibility of the local government elections.
A video seen by SaharaReporters a few days ago showed a large crowd of constituents from the Edu/Patigi/Moro Federal constituency in the state expressing their disapproval and booing their Representative, Hon. Ahmed Saba.
The incident occurred during his visit to the district last Tuesday, where he was participating in the All Progressives Congress (APC) council primary election for the Edu local government area.
An eyewitness who spoke to SaharaReporters said the people were enraged because the lawmaker allegedly wanted to impose Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq’s preferred candidate on them, so they vehemently rejected it.
“The Honourable Member representing Edu/Patigi/Moro Federal constituency Hon. Ahmed Saba (Ajia Shonga) was disgraced in his ward, Edu Local Government as the APC primary was going on because they were trying to impose their candidate on the people,” the eyewitness told SaharaReporters.
The candidate reportedly preferred by the governor was Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Ndamugoro but SaharaReporters learnt that the people of the constituency rejected him because they believed the candidate would also fail them like his godfather.
The video of the incident which surfaced online shows constituents from Shonga, the hometown of Hon. Ahmed Saba, shouting "Ole" (a term meaning "thief") as they forcibly escorted him out of the area, expressing their discontent and displeasure with his representation.
The eyewitness said: “He (the lawmaker) failed his constituency woefully. Stakeholders, including Hon. Mohammed Baba Ibrahim and Alhaji Bello (Teaching Service Commission - TESCOM Chairman), attempted to impose Ndamugoro, claiming they were acting on the governor's directives.
“However, the masses refused, leading to a disruption of the primary process. As a result, no primary election was held in Edu Local Government Area, and the consensus arrangement was rendered null and void.”
“The event exposed deep-seated resentment against the imposition of candidates, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and representative selection process,” the witness added.
Follow the Sahara Reporters channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaFClvtH5JM6SSsP7M2Y