Controversy trailing the suspension of Human Rights Activist and the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani from the All Progressives Congress (APC) for alleged anti-party activities has taken a new twist as Kaduna State APC insists the 11 months ban stands.
Kaduna APC spokesperson, Salisu Wusono, who made the disclosure while addressing journalists in Kaduna on Thursday urged party loyalists and the public to disregard the assertion by the party’s National Vice-Chairman (North West), Inuwa AbdulKadir that Senator Sani’s ban was ‘invalid’.
Abdulkadir had claimed in a news conference on Monday in Kaduna that Sani’s controversial suspension was “invalid and of no consequence whatsoever“.
Wusono argued on Wednesday that Abdulkadir acted without the consent of the party’s national leadership, adding that such action violated Section 21 of APC’s constitution. He insists that the national vice- chairman’s action was a deliberate attempt to ridicule the party in the state, for personal interest.
“The 11 month suspension slammed on Shehu Sani by the Kaduna State APC stands. Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir does not have the power to lift the suspension and was acting on his own without any authorisation by the national leadership of the party.
“What happened on Monday in Kaduna between Abdulkadir and the so-called APC chieftains was an abuse of his office in promoting the narrow agenda of people who have never been interested in the progress and success of the APC,’’ he said.
Wusono noted that Abdulkadir by his conduct, had embarrassed the national leadership and loyal membership of the APC.
“The national leadership of APC, President Buhari and his Vice- President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and other leaders of the party are aware of Shehu Sani’s anti-party activities at the federal and state levels.
“Sani stands suspended from participating in all APC activities, that is the reason why he did not attend President Buhari and Vice President Osibanjo’s functions in Kaduna.
“All the 11 APC lawmakers in House of Reps from the state are loyal to our leadership. All the 28 APC lawmakers in the Kaduna State House of Assembly are standing by the party and its government.
Abdulkadir claims:
On Monday, Abdulkadir had claimed that Shehu’s suspension was not binding because according to him, the right procedure was not followed in the purported suspension of the senator.
His words: “We wish to state here that the purported suspension is invalid and not binding and is of no effect, the right procedure was not followed, and the national body is in receipt of a letter from the ward chairman dissociating himself from the suspension and giving an insight into the matter.”
The zonal chairman speaking about the meeting with the stakeholders which held behind closed doors said, “The meeting basically was to look at some challenges which are internal with party stakeholders in the state and find some lasting solutions to them.”
Although he denied that there was any faction of the members of the party in the state, he stressed however that, “as a party, we encourage dialogue and understanding among members as a way forward.
“We met and we have discussed and I am optimistic that better days await the party in the state” he said.
Corroborating the zonal chairman’s position, the pioneer Chairman of the party in the state, Dr Akeem Baba-Ahmed who is the leader of the about 30 APC stakeholders that attended the meeting, said, there is no faction of the party in the state, but stressed the need for strict adherence to the ideology of the party which some of them stand for.
He expressed appreciation to the national body for intervening in the internal crisis in the party in the state, while further expressing their readiness to support Governor Nasir El-Rufai in the discharge of his constitutional responsibilities.
“We are ready and willing to continue to participate in the search for peace, we are not a faction, we are loyal party members and willing to see our party deliver on its promises,” he said.
By Olisemeka Obeche