Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad has rejected the claim that he simply lost the 2022 APC House of Representatives primary with 16 votes, alleging that the process was not credible.
Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad has disputed claims surrounding his performance in the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election, insisting that the process was manipulated.
Ahmad, who was seeking the APC ticket to contest the Gaya/Ajingi/Albasu Federal Constituency seat in Kano State, was reported to have scored 16 votes against 109 votes recorded by the eventual winner, Abdullahi Gaya.
However, Ahmad has rejected the narrative that the result represented a straightforward defeat, alleging that the primary election was compromised.
Ahmad challenges 16-vote narrative
Ahmad’s latest comments are aimed at correcting what he described as a misleading portrayal of his performance during the primary.
The former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari has maintained that the process was not credible and that he and his agents were denied access to the venue where the election was conducted.
In 2022, Ahmad called for a fresh primary after rejecting the result announced by the party. Contemporary reports also recorded his complaint that the process lacked transparency.
What happened at the 2022 primary?
The APC primary was held in May 2022 as the party selected its candidate for the Gaya/Ajingi/Albasu Federal Constituency.
Abdullahi Gaya was declared winner after securing 109 votes, while Ahmad was recorded as having obtained 16 votes.
Ahmad disputed the circumstances surrounding the vote, arguing that the process could not be regarded as a credible primary.
His latest remarks have revived discussion around the internal processes through which Nigerian political parties select candidates.
Ahmad maintains his position
Ahmad’s position is that the 16-vote figure should not be interpreted without considering the circumstances in which the primary was conducted.
The allegation of rigging remains Ahmad’s claim and has not, from the available reports reviewed, been established as a proven finding against the APC.
The controversy highlights the recurring disputes that accompany party primaries in Nigeria, particularly allegations concerning access, transparency and the credibility of voting procedures.