Dajuma Sarki, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state chairmanship aspirant, has accused the party of constitutional abuse at the just-concluded congress that ushered in new officials.

“What happened at the state congress of PDP in Kaduna yesterday was nothing but a rape on democracy,” Mr Sarki said while addressing a press briefing on Sunday in Kaduna.

He added, ”It was an abuse of the constitution and guidelines for the conduct of state congresses of the PDP by anti-democratic forces who are bent on keeping our part out of power, hence the reason for my walk out before the end of the voting exercise.”

On Sunday, a former Commissioner for Water Resources in Kaduna State, Edward Masha, emerged as the state’s new chairman of PDP.

Tanko Beiji, the state returning officer, announced the results on Sunday at the Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex, the venue of the PDP congress.

However, Mr Sarki described the congress as a charade, where due process was murdered against people’s interests.

“Obviously, what happened at the trade fair complex, the venue of the state congress, yesterday was nothing but a fraud.

”It was in contravention of the constitution and guidelines for the conduct of ward, local government areas, state, zonal congresses, and the national convention of the party,” the aspirant said.

He said the election mode was to be an open-secret ballot in conformity with the party’s constitution and guidelines.

”But instead, some elements within the party who do not wish the party well, especially in Kaduna state, manipulated the process, as against the constitution and guidelines of our great party, the PDP,” Mr Sarki stated.

He maintained that he was not defeated in a free, fair, credible election, adding, “I was rigged out.”

 ”The leadership of the party could not see a reason to conduct a free, fair and credible election that would usher in a credible leader with the required capacity to wrest power from the ruling APC in Kaduna state come 2027.

“No doubt, we are all living witnesses to how PDP lost out during the last gubernatorial election in Kaduna state.

”And if the leaders had come out in their numbers just like they did against me yesterday to manipulate the process of the election, PDP would not have been in the opposition in Kaduna State today,” he said.

Mr Sarki, however, expressed gratitude to his campaign team and delegates who voted for him.

(NAN)