A group of stakeholders in the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Niger state, has called for the suspension of the party’s chairman over a leaked video that showed him declaring preference for aspirants in the coming party primaries.
The group, comprising of party stakeholders from the 25 local government areas wrote a petition to the National Secretariat of the party, calling for the immediate suspension Alhaji Haliru Zakari Jikantoro.
Consistent efforts made to reach Jikantoro to comment on happenings in the party have often been rebuffed as he does not pick calls to his line. Worse, the party spokesman in the state has not been forthcoming. There are reports that the publicity unit of the party has strict instructions not to engage the media, except as otherwise directed by the leadership.
Meantime, the signed three-page petition dated 20th May, 2022 and addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, raised the alarm over the recent alleged destructive activities of Jikantoro.
The group cited a trending video where the party chieftain declaring open support for the Senatorial ambition of Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello.
Below is the incriminating video:
Bello is one of the contenders for the Niger North Senatorial District, a seat he is fighting for against incumbent, Senator Sabi Abdullahi.
Abdulahi is the Senator who pushed for the controversial Hate Speech Bill which drew the ire of many Nigerians over its clauses.
One of the strong contenders for the Niger North Senatorial District seat is believed to be behind the petition against the chairman, though he has been seen playing his card in the open. “His foot-soldiers are behind it all,” a source volunteered.
The group pointed out that Article 21.2 (ii) clearly stated that offenses against the party shall include: “Anti-party activities or any conduct, which is likely to embarrass or have adverse effect on the party or bring the party into hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute”.
The group alleged in the petition that the party Chairman, had in the trending video where he spoke in Hausa while receiving the former Commissioner for Land and Housing in the state, and one of the party aspirants who is contesting for Borgu/Agwara Federal Constituency, Barrister Mouktar Nasale, stated that though he ought not to openly declare support and preference for any aspirant, he has made an exception by doing so for the governor.
“He went further by saying he has not only declared his support for the governor, he is in the forefront of the struggle”, adding that “this clearly violate Article 21.2 (ii) of our great party which the Chairman swore to uphold”.
The group further alleged that in another forum where the Chairman hosted a member of the House of Representatives and Governorship aspirant in the state, Hon. Umar Bago in his office, “he made it known through a statement by the publicity secretary of the party that every aspirant would be given a level playing ground within the party constitution”, wondering if a party Chairman who speaks from both side of his mouth can be trusted.
The group pointed out that it has become necessary “to place it on record that this singular act has put the party on a wrong pedestal in Niger state as not just the aspirants feel slighted by the brazen disregard for laws, but the general public who now see our party as one that lack internal democracy.
“In view of the forgoing, we call for the immediate suspension of the Chairman as we no longer have confidence in his ability to uphold the constitution of the party, give a level playing field to all aspirants and endure the delivery of a free, fair and credible primary elections”.
