The Niger State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to be enmeshed in crisis as the chairman, Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, resigned his position on Friday during a State Working Committee (SWC) and stakeholders meeting in Minna, the Niger State capital.
The meeting, where he resigned and said he was not leaving because there was a crisis, did not last up an hour.
Jikantoro told a press conference at the party secretariat on Friday that he was leaving for personal reasons to move the party forward.
The former chairman pointed out that he had no issues with the party, noting that he believed his exit will add value to the party in the state.
It was learnt that there was more to Jikantoro’s departure.
“All of them (SWC members) are on their way out because “the power that be” has asked them to quietly resign their position to avoid any embarrassment, and I can confirm to you that they will all go. They will resign one after the other in the next one week,” our source added.
Recall that the former Chairman was suspended five months ago by his Kashini ward’s party executive, for anti-party activities, accusing him of violating and disregarding the constitution of the party.
The letter of suspension was dated March 2nd, 2023, signed by the 21 members executive, and addressed to Agwara Local Government chairman of the party,
He was also accused of involving himself in acts which the party said undermined its success during the last Presidential and the National Assembly elections in the state. He was accused of secretly working for the Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
According to the party, “it is on record that Hon. Haliru Zakeri Jikantoro has been indulging in anti-party activities by canvassing votes for the Peoples Democratic Party for the Presidential and National Assembly elections”.
Jikantoro became Chairman in July 2020 after the controversial removal of his predecessor, Engineer Jibrin Iman, who was accused of embezzling party funds running into hundreds of millions of naira.
The Zonal chairman of the party from Zone C, Alhaji Aminu Bobbi has been chosen as the acting chairman of the party, pending the election of a substantive Chairman.
Bobbi, in an interview, said he will reposition the party for better, before a special congress will be held to elect a substantive chairman.
Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser to the governor on political matters, Alhaji Mohammed Nma Kolo, said there is no friction in the party, noting that Jikantoro disclosed his decision at an earlier meeting with Governor Umar Bago, and other top government officials.
