- * Vows To Resist Imposition Of Candidates
By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Ahead of the All Progressive Congress (APC) state congresses, some members of the party under the aigies; Forum of Foundation Members of APC in Niger state have raised the alarm over alleged plots to deny them the opportunity to contest for positions of their choice.
This is coming on the heels of the directive by the state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, mandating all political appointees who are interested in contesting any elective position to immediately tender their resignation letter.
The aggrieved APC members are also accusing some ‘powerful’ individuals in the state of using their positions to pave way for the imposition of candidates against assurances of level playing ground for all, including those who have already purchased their forms.
Chairman, Forum for Foundation Members of APC, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Katcha, expressed concerns over the unfolding events ahead of the state congress and calling on party members to resist any form of imposition in its totality.
For peaceful conduct of congress in Niger state, Mohammed Katcha told journalists that nothing short of a free and fair congress in line with the internal ideology of the ruling party will be acceptable to all and must be respected in the fort coming state congress.
While encouraging all aspirants who already purchased forms for the various positions of interest to ensure that they follow due process, Mohammed Katcha urged every APC member feeling short-changed by the ongoing processes to remain calm.
“What the people are complaining about is the speculations that the screening will not take place, that they will be disqualified from contesting despite that they have already bought forms to contest state executive positions but some wanted to go ahead with the consensus”.
On the zonal chairmanship contestants (Niger-South), Malam Muhammad Sidi Saba, who said he disagreed with the rumoured consensus candidate arrangement, however, insisted that anything short of a level playing ground for all contestants will be resisted.
Sidi Saba soliciting for the intervention of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to forestall any possible crisis in the party and also to disallow those he described as ‘selfish leaders’ from hijacking the congress in Niger state for personal gains.
According to him, “We are waiting for the screening committee to be in Niger state. We learnt that they are still in Abuja. We have already bought forms to contest and we have done everything required of us regarding the contest”.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Forum, Barrister Lakpene Yusuf Bida, wants the National Secretariat of the party, to, as a matter of urgency, release the list of delegates for transparency in the entire process.
The Forum Secretary said, “We observed a high level of conspiracy between party officials to manipulate Niger state APC congress in favour of some selected candidates on the basis of illegal micro-zoning. We strongly oppose the imposition of party officials”.
Our Correspondent however reports that no fewer than 26 APC members who purchased forms to contest various positions in the forthcoming state congress attended the meeting where they unanimously agreed to ensure peace, justice and fair play for all contestants.
Meanwhile, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has directed all political appointees in the state that emerged or that are interested in contesting at all forthcoming state APC congress to tender their resignation letters.
Governor Bello according to a statement from the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, said the measure is in compliance with the constitution of the ruling party which must be strictly adhered to.
“The resignation letters should be submitted to the office of Secretary to the State Government with immediate effect”, the statement signed by Lawal Tanko, (Information Officer), SSG's office further said. NNL.