The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Solidarity Group in Borno State has condemned the replacement of Jibrin Tatabe, the candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District, with Mohammed Kumalia for the 2023 general elections.
The zone's delegates, according to the group, unanimously elected Tatabe at the Maiduguri primary on May 23, 2022.
Condemning the substitution, the Secretary of the PDP Solidarity group, Ashiek Umar, revealed yesterday in Maiduguri that after winning the senatorial primary elections, Tatabe was issued a certificate of return by the national leadership of the PDP in the state.
As a result, he declared that the senatorial district's elected candidate has not withdrawn his nomination as of yet.
Besides, he said, the substitution of Tatabe’s candidature has, however, suppressed the will of the electorates at the primary.
He added: “To our dismay, we saw Kumalia’s name on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) list of nominated candidates.”
He noted that he did not contest for the primary, stressing that the 2022 Electoral Act stated that a substituting candidate must be nominated through valid primary elections and monitored by the commission.
“It is on record that there was no primary election conducted in Maiduguri to substitute Tatabe with Kumalia in the senatorial district,” he maintained.
He said the only senatorial primary was between Tatabe and Bukar Kachalla, when the former was returned elected by the senatorial delegates.
He alleged that most of the PDP substituted candidates are, however, supported by Abuja politicians.
He warned that Tatabe could not be bought over by anybody, as he remains Borno Central Senatorial Candidate for the forthcoming general elections.
“The substitution of Tatabe with Kumalia may affect integrity of the party, resulting in reduced support of the people,” he warned.