By Muhammad Mamman
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sounded a stark warning over an alleged scheme by the All Progressives Congress (APC), purportedly involving a federal minister from Zamfara State, to unleash a heavy military presence during the upcoming re-run election in Kaura Namoda South Constituency, Zamfara State.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, accused the APC of colluding with security forces to intimidate voters and undermine the democratic process in the by-election, originally held on 16 August 2025.
The PDP claims the initial poll was tainted by widespread voter intimidation, harassment, and ballot box snatching, allegedly perpetrated by armed security personnel. Despite securing a majority of votes, the election was controversially declared “inconclusive” in five polling units across Sakajiki and Kyambarawa wards.
Ahead of the re-run, scheduled for Thursday, 21 August, the PDP alleges that the APC is mobilising an overwhelming force, including “battalions of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Mobile Police, and the Directorate of State Services (DSS)” to the affected polling units. The opposition party branded this as a calculated move to instil fear and rig the vote.
“This sinister deployment aims to create a siege mentality, intimidate, and terrorise voters, preventing them from exercising their constitutional right to vote,” Ologunagba declared.
The PDP further claims that the APC intends to use security operatives to coerce officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and fabricate results in its favour.
Warning that such actions could spark unrest in Zamfara, the PDP called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene and halt the alleged plot. It also urged Nigerians and the international community to hold the APC accountable for any potential breakdown of law and order during the re-run.
