The Director of the Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training (CEDDERT), Zaria, Professor Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, has warned that elections may not hold in some parts of the northwestern states due to the emergence of a group deadlier than bandits.

He said the group, operating around Birnin Gwari axis in Kaduna State and Dandume in Katsina State, had already started propagating its ideologies in the areas.

Prof Mohammed stated this while speaking at a public lecture to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) held in Kano.

He said, "Presently, a group deadlier than bandits has appeared in parts of the North Western states. The group now holds territory at Birnin Gwari, Kaduna, Dandume, Katsina; Zamfara and even parts of Niger State.

"Already, they have stopped all political activities there and are indirectly trying to take over the areas from government.

"This group is more dangerous than bandits because bandits have no ideology other than that of killing and collecting money for ransom. But these people are already propagating their ideologies. My fear is that the 2023 elections may not even hold in these areas."

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Bayero University Kano (BUK), Prof Sagir Adamu Abbas, who lamented that the current political parties lacked ideologies and structures, promised that the university would continue to immortalise the NEPU/PRP legacies.