Buhari postpones Zamfara campaign

President Muhammadu Buhari has postponed his campaign rally in Zamfara State, earlier scheduled for Sunday in the state capital.

Presidency sources disclosed this, attributing the development to the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, confirmed the postponement but did not give reasons.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had released the final list of candidates for the March 2 governorship and state house of assembly elections, with the names of those in APC missing.

The electoral body said it decided to maintain its original position that APC was ineligible for the exercise because it did not conduct primaries in the state.

Meanwhile, Kabiru Marafa, a senator in the state, has said there is no need for the president to go to Zamfara for campaign as his “foot soldiers” were really to do so on his behalf.

Speaking to state house correspondents after meeting with Buhari, Marafa, “I am not aware of the cancellation of the APC Zamfara rally; honestly because I was not told. Like I said, I just submitted a proposal which I think will serve the interest of our party, the president and our people.

“We don’t have candidates for now because of the political impasse that characterised Zamfara state in the last few months and the president is billed to be in Zamfara on Sunday, February 3.

“Because of the rumple between disagreeing parties, we felt it is better Mr. President suspends his visit to Zamfara. After all, we are there; we can campaign for him; he knows us; he knows our individual capacities; there is no point bringing all the factions under one umbrella, because once the president is there, if you like the president and you are with him, you will like to show your face.

“However, we feel it is avoidable; but you cannot come to the president with just one single suggestion. So, I just put my opinion across; that if it is a must; maybe the party has fixed February 3rd for the visit, then we want to be excused because there is no way President Muhammad Buhari will go to Zamfara and my face is not seen and people will not ask questions and I think it is not fair just to be absent like that.”