I Didn’t Help Sokoto APC With My Position, Police Affairs Minister Says

The minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, who also doubles as All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign director general in Sokoto state, has debunked allegations that he used his ministerial position to APC’s advantage during the general elections.

Reacting to a petition titled, “Re; Sokoto 2023 & Call To Order As A Stitch In Time Saves Nine!!!” dated April 6, 2023, signed by the Sokoto State Representative of the Network, Professor Sani Abubakar YarSakke and addressed to President Buhari, Dingyadi said he will not join issues with a faceless group.

He said APC’s victory at the just concluded general election in Sokoto State and Nigeria, is an indication that Nigerians have accepted the party policies and ideology.

“APC has come to stay as a leading party in Nigeria, as such the opposition should come and join hands with us toward actualisation of our dream for Nigeria,” he said.

Dingyadi also expressed optimism that APC will emerge victorious at the April 15 Senatorial and House of Representatives supplementary election in Sokoto State.

Dingyadi said the claim that the police was used to intimidate members of the opposition in Sokoto during the elections was a baseless fallacy.

Debunking allegations that he used his position as Minister of Police Affairs and Campaign Director General of the Sokoto APC to the advantage of his party in the general elections , Dingyadi said such a statement must be expected from anybody or party that loses election.

The minister recalled that he was the same Maigari Dingyadi in 2015 that was Sokoto State Campaign Director General of APC when Aminu Waziri Tambuwal won as Sokoto State governor.

He said, “I am the same Maigari Dingyadi and Sokoto State Campaign Director General of APC in 2019 when Tambuwal defected to PDP and won reelection as governor. But there was no accusation of foul play.

Recalled that ahead the April 15 rerun of National Assembly elections in the country, a group known as Network For Domestic Election Monitors in Sokoto State has insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari should caution the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko not to repeat the alleged disruption and malpractice caused during the February 25 and March 18, 2023.

The group accused the Minister of Police Affairs, who is from Sokoto State, of abusing his office by withdrawing Policemen from polling units on the days of presidential and governorship elections in the State, thereby causing violence and an atmosphere to manipulate the process in favour of his party, the APC.