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LG election consensus list causes unrest in Nasarawa APC

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Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State

By our reporter

Emergence of candidates under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the forthcoming local council election in Nasarawa State has caused unrest in the Home of Solid Minerals, our correspondent authoritatively reports.

Ahead of local council election, the state chapter of the party with the broom logo, constituted committees to, through consensus produce chairmanship and councillorship candidates for each of the local government areas.

Our reporter gathered that the committees produced mostly Muslims to fly the party flag in the 13 local government areas of the state.

Now, stakeholders accused the committees of selecting mainly Muslims to fly the party flag in the council election.

For example, the committee headed by Hon. Abubakar Hassan Nalaraba who is Member House of Representatives, Keana/Awe Federal Constituency was accused of bias for listing only Muslims as candidates for chairman, deputy chairman and councillors for the election.

Already, a group named Concerned APC Christians Forum, Keana Local Government Area, has petitioned the Nasarawa State chairman of APC, Aliyu Bello over what it termed marginalization in council election.

The petition signed by Christian leaders in all the 10 electoral wards of Keana Local Government Area, dated October 12, entitled Marginalisation of Christian APC Members in Keana Local Government Election complained of two things: “Lack of representation – No Christian was considered for the 10 electoral wards in Keana Local Government, implying no qualified Christian members.

“Consensus Committee Bias – The local government consensus committee’s composition with a Muslim chairman, deputy and secretary violates diversity and inclusivity principles and directives of the party and the state stakeholders’ resolutions.”

According to the group, “These actions contravene: i. APC’s constitution which promotes unity, equality and justice for all Nigerians; ii. Nigerian Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of religion and equal participation in the political process and; this negates the state stakeholders meeting where the governor advised on religious and ethnic consideration.”

The group therefore demanded immediate investigation into their concerns; ensure representation and balance for Christians in the electoral process and; revert to the normal arrangement of Muslim-Christian or Christian-Muslim.

The petitioners urged the party leadership and the state governor, Abdullahi Sule to take prompt action to address “these grievances and ensure a fair and inclusive election process”.

One of the elders who pleaded anonymity said, “It has never happened like this. It’s either a Christian chairman and Muslim deputy or vice versa.”

The state chairman of APC could not be reached for his reaction.

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