APC Senatorial Primary Disrupted by Thugs in Zamfara, Council Chairman Attacked

The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, was disrupted on Monday after suspected political thugs attacked two polling centres, forcing voters and residents to flee.

The incidents occurred at Namoda Model Primary School and the Galadima Dangaladima Ward polling unit, located in front of the Emir’s Palace. The attackers reportedly stormed the centres, triggering panic and forcing voters to abandon the exercise.

In a related incident, suspected political thugs engaged in a physical confrontation among themselves, leaving one person seriously injured. The circumstances surrounding the clash were not immediately clear.

The disruption occurred as voters waited for officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who had reportedly not arrived at the polling centres as of 11:30 a.m.

The primary has drawn attention because the two major senatorial aspirants, incumbent Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura and Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura, belong to opposing political camps within the APC.

Sahabi Ya’u Kaura is aligned with the camp of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, while Tijjani Yahaya Kaura is backed by the camp of Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. Both aspirants are from Galadima Dangaladima Ward in Kaura Namoda metropolis.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, Mannir Muhammad Haidara, reportedly escaped an attempted lynching after suspected thugs attacked his vehicle at Namoda Model Primary School.

The attackers allegedly damaged parts of the vehicle during the incident. Further details about the attack and the condition of the injured person were not provided in the available report.