Why PDP, APC Postpone House of Assembly Primaries

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the main opposition party All Progressives Congress (APC) have postponed their House of Assembly primaries.

The House of Assembly primaries that was scheduled for today (Monday) across the nation was postponed by one day as a mark of respect for those who were killed in Friday’s terrorist attack on a mosque in Kano city, ThisDay reports.

According to a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos by APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party will hold its House of Assembly primaries tomorrow, December 2^nd, adding that all the dates for other primaries remain unchanged.



APC while reacting to the attack said it was a monumental national tragedy and that the party could not be oblivious to the plight of the victims of the absolutely condemnable and totally incomprehensible attack on defenceless citizens in such a hallowed place as a mosque.

The party in an earlier statement condemned the attack on the innocent worshippers and promised that terrorism would never prevail no matter how long it takes. It pleaded with all citizens to demonstrate the Nigerian spirit of compassion and strength of character by providing succour and support to one another.

Also, the PDP postponed its Kano State House of assembly primary election for a similar reason.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, the party was shocked when it received the news of the attack, especially as the victims were harmless Nigerians, who were at the mosque to pray and express their allegiance and love for the Almighty God.

“Indeed, our hearts ache for our brothers and sisters, who were slaughtered in this horrible attack. We grieve for the bereaved, especially those who have been widowed and orphaned today. We share in their sorrows and pray that those behind this atrocious act must not escape justice,” it said.

While condemning the attack, PDP said the victims of such attacks in the country were productive citizens who were making useful contributions to the growth and development of the nation and called on the perpetuators to have a rethink and embrace peace.

The party said the country would have experienced greater development if the human and material resources as well as the time and energy wasted as a result of the security challenges were channelled towards national development.

Meanwhile, the United Nations in a statement issued by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, pledged its “full support” to Nigeria to end terrorism following the attack on Kano Central Mosque on Friday, which left many worshippers dead and several others injured.

Ki-Moon, who said there was no justification whatsoever for the attacks on civilians assured that it would provide security to the population consistent with international law and Nigeria’s human rights obligations.

He sent his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and to the people and government of Nigeria and wished swift recovery to the injured.

In a related development, Senator Bola Tinubu, former Lagos State governor and national leader of the APC in a press statement urged Nigerians to rally against Boko Haram. He described Boko Haram and their sponsors as ‘heartless and evil.’

Tinubu said all well-meaning Nigerians must work to disallow the insurgents from achieving their aim of breaking up the country. He said he shares the pains of those who lost their loved ones and those who got injured in the several attacks.

“Those of us who love peace, who love unity and who love Nigeria can never allow this vile group to achieve its objective, to turn us into a bloodied and divided nation. Nigeria can and will defeat this terrorist machine and those behind it. We have no other home. We have no other choice. I commiserate with the people of Kano and their Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi. Also with the leaders and people of other locations that have come under attack such as Bauchi, Borno and parts of Yobe,” he said.

The former governor while lamenting recalling the violent attacks said during the last few days, Nigeria has suffered intense attacks and grave loss of lives due to the evil work of terrorist group, Boko Haram.

“Attacks against numerous locations in the North-east demonstrate how heinous and debased Boko Haram and those who sponsor it have become. So depraved, they have become heartless and filled with enmity against all that is good and proper. This was not the act of human beings. These attacks could only have come from the hands of those who do not know God or serve God. This is the act of godless people. The hand of evil, deploying those who have given themselves over to wickedness, committed this terrible thing. No reason can be found for what was done except that BH (Boko Haram) has once again shown its lust for innocent blood and its disdain for life peacefully lived. Boko Haram killed people praying to God because the god of Boko Haram is Satan himself. Boko Haram seeks to scare and intimidate Christians and Muslims alike through wanton destruction. They may attack us but never shall this evil force subdue us. Christians and Muslims must stand arm-in-arm to face this terrorist onslaught,” he said.