Threats, intimidation causing mass resignations in Niger APC

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger state chapter of the All Progressives Congress APC has witnessed mass resignation of its key State Working Committee (SWC) members which was not unconnected with alleged threat, intimidation and self centred style of the state Governor , RT Hon Mohammed Umar Bago.

Our correspondent reliably gathered that the state executives were threatened by the leader of the party in the state who is not comfortable with the structure put in place by his predecessor and has given them forty eight hours ultimatum to quit or be humiliated out of their positions.

The State Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Hon. Haliru Zakari Jinkatoro had announced his resignation before the executive members of the party in the state immediately after the maiden National Executive Council meeting of the party, who claimed his resignation was out of conviction and voluntary.

This was followed by the state secretary, Barrister Ibrahim Khaleed Paiko and the latest is the state vice chairman of the party, Comrade Abdulsalam Madaki while others are also standing by to throw in their towel as the situation unfold, just as there was an insinuation that governor Mohammed Umar Bago had allegedly threatened the said chairman before the general elections.

Sources told our Reporter on condition of anonymity that the said executives and others were accused for allegedly working against him during the party’s primary and because they worked for Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi during the party governorship primary election he is not comfortable to work with them

Consequently, the governor who refused to bury the hatchet told them that he will get rid of the party officials in order to install his loyalists to take charge of the party.

A source hinted this “the Niger State governor, Mohammed Umar Bago has been the brain behind the current crisis rocking the formation of APC One and APC Two division in the state which was aimed at pocketing the party for his selfish interest hence the intrigues that he has started with the state party leader , he wants to kill the party , he is a tyrant see how he hired private body guards” the source declared.

The source further hinted that the last straw that broke the camel’s back was that the former state chairman Jikantoro was allegedly said to have been presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the ministerial position by the party but was turned down and replaced with Senator Abdullahi Sabi by the governor which did not go down well with the immediate past party chairman.

Reacting in an interview, the State APC Publicity Secretary, Labaran Musa Sarkin-Kaji explained that their resignation were based on personal grounds and willingly, adding that he is not aware of any other reason, describing the reasons advanced as a mere speculations .

Also contacted, the Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Bologi declined to make comments on the whole allegations raised against his boss, but said he is not aware and that the allegations were mere speculation.