Agbenu Oyale, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday said it has initiated court processes in the High Court to formally declare the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau as the substantive state chief executive.
The party said in a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary pointed out that Governor Bello Matawalle has already decided to vacate his office by decamping to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The PDP said its position is predicated on the reported harassment of the Deputy Governor by the police, “including an unlawful and vexatious obstruction of a planned rally by him, despite the statutory powers vested in a situation where the governor has vacated his office, in line with the extant ruling of the Supreme Court.”
The statement added: “Instead of harassing the Deputy Governor Gusau, the police, as agents of the law, should be providing him all the protection and privileges, particularly as the formal process for his official declaration given the vacation of office by Matawalle has already commenced at the Federal High Court.
“The Police should know that by virtue of section 221 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as well as the judgment of the Supreme Court in Falake v. INEC (2016), that the Zamfara governorship mandate belongs to the PDP and that Gusau, not Matawalle, is now the holder of that mandate, given Matawalle’s willful defection to the APC.
“The PDP’s mandate is in no way transferable to the APC and the police and all security agencies should be guided by this.”
The PDP also cautioned banks and other financial institutions to be wary of unapproved financial transactions with cronies of Governor Matawalle, “particularly, given the alleged moves to sweep the coffers of the state ahead of Matawalle’s inevitable eviction by the court.”
It further warned: “Such institutions should be very circumspect in their dealings with impostors who have since ceased to represent the state, immediately Matawalle defected to the APC.”
The PDP called on Deputy Governor to remain resolute and not be deterred in any way “as the people of Zamfara state are solidly behind him in resisting imposters and deserters at this trying time.”
The party also urged the people of Zamfara state to remain united “as the mandate, which they willingly gave to the PDP, will never be allowed to be stolen by traitors.”