Shehu Sani loses PDP primary in Kaduna securing two votes after refusing to bribe delegates

TROUBLE is brewing within the Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the former lawmaker representing the Kaduna Central senatorial District Senator Shehu Sani lost the gubernatorial primaries in suspicious circumstances.

Yesterday, the PDP geld its primaries in Kaduna and Senator Sani was soundly defeated, only securing two votes. Hon Isah Ashiru, a former House of Representatives member, clinch victory in the primary and the will go on to be the PDP's flagbearer in next year's governorship elections.

In the run-up to the elections, Senator Sani had refused to bribe any delegate and had shunned the Nigerian practise of handing out envelopes to party members. He said:“No one should pay any delegate on my behalf.

“I don’t believe in the political ritual of paying to be elected as that is inconsistent with my ideological and moral beliefs. I welcome the votes of delegates who will vote for me based on the principles I stand for and my agenda for the good people of Kaduna State.

After the elections, Senator Sani had congratulated Hon Ashiru and thanked the two delegates who voted for him. However, it now appears that the elections were not as straightforward as thought as the former senator said that up to 300 party delegates have rung to say they voted for him.

Senator Sani said that although he got two votes during the governorship primary, over 300 delegates have called, claiming that they voted for him. It is not yet clear if he will challenge the result which saw Hon Ashiru win with 414 votes.