APC recruit over 4,000 thugs to rig Kaduna by-election – ADC, SDP

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State of recruiting more than 4,000 thugs to disrupt the August 16 bye-elections in Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency and state constituencies in Zaria and Sabon Gari.

In a joint statement on Thursday, the opposition parties alleged that the APC-led government was preparing to use violence, bribery, and intimidation to manipulate the polls.

According to the parties, the thugs, sourced from both within and outside Kaduna, were being positioned to target voters, party agents, and officials at polling stations and collation centres.

They also accused the state government of attempting to compromise senior officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with inducements such as land allocations.

The ADC and SDP further claimed that all 23 local government councils in the state had been forced to contribute N30 million each to fund the alleged rigging plan.

They alleged that an additional N4.8 billion was secured from Abuja to facilitate vote-buying, bribe electoral officers, and compromise security personnel.

“These are premeditated acts to subvert the will of the people,” the coalition leaders stated, accusing a serving commissioner and several council officials of coordinating the plot and sponsoring attacks on opposition events.

The parties urged INEC to replace all compromised election staff immediately and called on security agencies to ensure a violence-free process.

“No political figure should be allowed to unleash terror on voters. Anyone caught sponsoring or carrying out violence must be prosecuted, regardless of party affiliation,” the statement added.

ADC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Jafaru Ibrahim Sani; ADC Kaduna State Chairman, Elder Patrick Ambut; and SDP Kaduna State Chairman, Hon. Nasiru Maikano signed the statement, stressing their readiness to participate in a fair contest but warning against attempts to undermine electoral integrity.