By Correspondent in Minna.
The nationwide Congresses of the All Progressive Congress (APC) witnessed impressive turnout of members in Niger state but with two parallel executive expected at the end of the exercise which took place in Minna.
Also, as the battle for the soul of the APC in Niger rages, the Minister of State, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mumammad Ahmed Ketso and the House of Representatives member, representing Bosso/Chanchaga Federal Constituency, Hon. Umar Bago were conspicuously absent from the two factions.
Our Correspondent reports that the emergence of two factions is coming against the backdrop of the alleged denial of some aspirants to the ruling party by the Congress screening Committee in the state.
This developmnt prompted over 30 aspirants who had bought their forms from the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja to come together to organise their congress and produced leaders of their choice.
While the state faction, with the full backing of Governor Abubarkar Sani Bello, had their congress at the Idris Legbo Kutigi international Conference centre, opposite the Government House,the other faction already concluded theirs at a private building along Bay Clinic road, both within the Minna metropolis.
The ‘rejected’ group already concluded and had swore-in their leaders despite being denied access to the Abdulsalam Youth Centre, a government facility that was sealed-up on the orders of the state government after the faction had booked for it.
In his acceptance speech, the factional Chairman, Malam Nasiru Yusuf Ubandiya, said their election was legal because, “INEC representative was present, Niger state Congress Committee from Abuja, security agencies, CSOs and other critical stakeholders witnessed the election”.
Ubandiya said the election which produced him as the chairman showed that he scored the highest votes, out of the 1,467 votes cast and ‘was pronounced as the democratically elected chairman of the All Progressive Congress in Niger state’.
He promised to take the APC in Niger state to the next level by ensuring an all-inclusive leadership while appealing for the support and cooperation of members from across the 25 Local Government Areas to support the new administration to succeed.
Ubandiya, who however said he had forgiven those who wronged him and other members of the factio said, “Today’s historic victory is the beginning of a new era, leadership with focus, vision and agenda to build the party,through inclusive members’ participation in all its activities”.
“A new era where policies and programmes and as well decisions of the APC in Niger state, especially in areas of gender balancing in elective and appointive positions and decision-making processes in the party will be strightly upheld.
“I wish to state that my administration will operate an open policy in the spirit of; reconciliation, democracy and good governance for the benefit of all Nigerlites”, Ubandiya said.
He expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for identifying with his group.
Also speaking, the factional Secretary, Noami Dauda, emphasised the need for unity amongst the ranks of the party, insisting that they were the ‘real elected executives of the APC in Niger state, adding that they were not fractionalized with any group’.
“This is the authentic,newly elected executive of the APC in Niger state.
“We are the real executives, we do not have any fraction and we are here to serve the people of the state and move the party forward”.
Meanwhile, the Coastal Bus that brought Governor Bello, through the back gate of the Legbo Kutigi conference center, could not access the facility after close to 20 minutes of waiting, prompting the passengers, including the Governor, to step out and walk to the hall on foot.
Governor Bello, however, returned to the conference hall about 20 minutes after the entire area had become crowded with party supporters and political thugs but this time in his black bullet proof Jeep.
The results from the Governor Bello- led factional congress is still being awaited as at the time of filing this report.
