- Safiu Kehinde
An aspirant for the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) House of Representatives ticket, Ahmed Saleh, has accused the party of unfair exclusion from the its primary in Katsina State.
Saleh, popularly known as Ahmed Saleh Junior, raised the allegation while reacting to the primary election outcome in Mani on Saturday.
He said he was earlier endorsed by party stakeholders after the state chapter adopted a consensus arrangement.
According to him, stakeholders across the constituency unanimously backed his emergence as the consensus candidate with his name published in the party’s official gazette following the endorsement.
“I was endorsed by stakeholders across the constituency and congratulated by party leaders, including the governor,” Saleh said.
He alleged that some aggrieved aspirants accused him of influencing the stakeholders’ decision.
Saleh said the complaints led to the cancellation of the earlier consensus arrangement by party officials.
He explained that a fresh consensus committee was later constituted by the party leadership.
According to him, another round of voting was conducted in the presence of all aspirants.
“Twenty-five out of twenty-seven stakeholders voted in my favour during the exercise,” he alleged.
Saleh added that two stakeholders were absent for reasons not disclosed during the process.
He claimed the committee declared him winner before the ticket was later given to another aspirant.
“The committee announced me winner, but the ticket was eventually handed to someone else,” he alleged.
He further alleged that security operatives placed him under house arrest during the primary election.
According to him, the restriction prevented his participation in the direct primary process.
“The primary was conducted in my absence and results announced without my participation,” he said.
Saleh said the party had since constituted an elders’ committee to address grievances from the exercise.
He reaffirmed support for President Bola Tinubu and pledged continued loyalty to the APC.
“I believe the elders’ committee will ensure justice, fairness and reconciliation,” he said.
Responding, Maiwada Danmalam, the Director-General, Katsina Government House Media Directorate, said the state government was unaware of any detention claim.