The New Nigeria People’s Party NNPP, Katsina state chapter has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, to arrest and prosecute the state Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC, Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, for flouting the Electoral Act.

The party alleged that the APC Governorship candidate has begun his electioneering campaigns in Baure, Zango and Sandamu Local Government Areas of the state against the commission’s timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election.

Hon. Sani Liti, the state party Chairman in a petition signed and addressed to INEC, said the action of Dikko Radda and his supporters contravened section 28 (1) of the 2022 amended Electoral Act.

The petition reads, “We write to notify you of the violation of the relevant section of the electoral law and pray that the violators shall be punished according to the provision of the law”.

“We invite the honourable commissioner to note that the relevant section of the law provides for the commencement of campaigns and a timetable for the campaigns signed on 26th February 2022 as signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony”.

In the timetable, the statement stated that, campaign starts as follows: Presidential and National Assembly, September 28, 2023 and Gubernatorial and State Assembly, October 12, 2022.

“In total disregard for the provision of the law, we have noted with dismay that the APC candidate, Umar Dikko Radda, has commenced his campaigns in Baure, Zango and Sandamu Local Government Areas”.

He therefore urged the commission to bring the notice of the political actors of the state to follow the provision of the law and violators stopped from further acts.

However, in a swift reaction, Ahmed Abdulkadir, the Chairman of Radda’s Media Organisation, debunked claims by the NNPP that the APC Governorship candidate had kicked off campaigns.

In a statement on Thursday, Abdulkadir said Dikko, as an enlightened and educated person is not ignorant of the electoral law to fall into such breach either wittingly or unwittingly.

“Dr. Dikko Radda has not started his gubernatorial campaign. What he did were meetings with party officials, no more, no less”.

“In addition, the party, APC, had written to all security agencies and copied INEC, with the full itinerary on the said meetings with party excos at all levels,” he concluded. (Daily Independent)

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