Intrigues have arisen as a splinter group in the All Progressive Congress in Niger State that has Senator Musa Ibrahim and other members of the National and State Houses of Assembly on Monday held election owing to the fact that the executive members of the party were allegedly bribed with N700 million by the Peoples Democratic Party to sell out.
The group, led by its newly elected Chairman, Alhaji Baba Aminu, claimed after the faction’s election at the Abdulsalami Youth Centre in Minna, that his group is the recognised faction of the APC.
According to Aminu: “Our elected officers are sellout.
“They took N700 million bribe from the PDP.
“In fact, they have used part of the money to pay the rent for our new party (APC) secretariat.”
Executive Committee member of the APC and former Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change, Alhaji Umar Shuaibu, said the APC in Niger State followed directives from the National Vice Chairman and National Youth Leader and that what the splinter group is doing is illegal.
According to Shuaibu: “I have full evidences by way of evidences that were sent to me by the national Youth Leader himself to conduct the election on the 11th of November.
“Now, we have conducted that election, a national Executive member was here to conduct the election, we did not conduct the election ourselves.
“He was satisfied with the election conduct where Alhaji Ibrahim Shettima was elected as Chairman, and up till date I have not heard that our election has been nullified.
“So, we are answerable to our National Vice Chairman.
“He directed accordingly at the Executive meeting at the national level that the harmonization committee that has been constituted and they should elect their leaders.”
Shuaibu, while responding to the need for sanctions on defaulting members, said: “Instead of sanctions that will drop them as members, we believe in dialogue.
“We met and advised them to change for the progress and wellbeing of the party.”
Reacting to a N700 million bribe scandal from the Peoples Democratic Party, Shuaibu blatantly refuted the allegation, saying it was malicious.
According to him: “It is very malicious, it is a big lie.
“I can tell you now as the Chairman of CPC, if I can be bought over, I ought to have been bought over during the elections in Niger State.
“We know the challenges we had in Niger State.
“We know the enticement we had as CPC leaders.
“I refused to be bought over.
“Therefore, it is cheap blackmail.
“People have contributed to acquire the party’s office and we have people who are committed to the party.
“David Umaru gave us N3.2 million, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello gave us N2.5 million, Sam Ndah Isaiah gave us N3.2 million.
“We are not hiding it.
“The money is meant to fund the secretariat and we are transparent in whatever we are doing.”
Shuaibu also dared prodigal members, saying: “I have a State Secretariat.
“I want any of the members both those in the National and State House Assembly to tell me that he has contributed a dime to the State Secretariat of the CPC.
“I am challenging them.
“Since their election, I am challenging them to show us a single vehicle they bought for the party as CPC representatives in Niger State.
“Now, we have a new party (APC) office.
“Ask them if they have contributed a dime to that effect.
“They are people who do not live up to their responsibilities.
“We have challenged the Niger State Government as a CPC Chairman.
“We called a press conference, but none of them turned up.”
Trending
- CSOs to EFCC, others: Don’t desecrate the courts while fighting corruption
- Why we’ve not paid stipends of Niger Delta ex-militants – Amnesty Office
- Eko DisCo reiterates commitment to improved service delivery
- Transcorp Hotels sells Calabar subsidiary
- FA, Premier League agree to scrap FA Cup replays
- Alake: Tinubu reforms yielding results
- NAPTIP arrests ‘Reverend Sister’ for allegedly trafficking 38 children
- Breaking: Police allegedly arrest Rivers lawmaker, Fubara loyalist in Abuja