Defections: Kebbi APC members warn against illegal substitution of candidates

Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State have warned that the party is seriously at risk in the State.

The group under the aegis of “The Concern APC Members/Supporters in Aliero/Gwandu/Jega Federal Constituency, Kebbi State Forum”, in a statement on Thursday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, APC National Deputy Chairman, North, Senator Abubakar Kyari, APC National Vice Chairman, North West Salihu Lukman, and APC Kebbi State Chairman, Abubakar Kana to quickly take decisive action in order to halt all sharp practices, actions and tendencies that will undermine the success of the party in the next year general election.

The statement, which was signed by the group’s Chairman, Usman Ibrahim and the Secretary, Mohammed Aliyu said, “attempt to substitute candidates who won the primary election conducted by the leadership of the party for whatever interest is uncalled for, unacceptable and capable of widening the crisis in the party.

“Due to the crisis in our party, the former governor of our state, Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero, Senate Leader, Senator Abdullahi Yahaya and several others have left the party to PDP and other parties.”

The party decried the wave of defections rocking the APC in the State, stating that it would continue if the National leadership didn’t check the behaviour of some party leaders in Kebbi State.

The group said it was aware of moves by the State chapter and the National Headquarters to substitute candidates who won the recent primary election for State House of Assembly and National Assembly on the ground that they are loyal to either Senator Aliero and Senator Yahaya.

“This action is not acceptable to us as it is capable of undermining our chances in the 2023 general election.

“For instance, Hon. Muhammad Umar Jega who is representing Aliero/Gwandu/Jega Federal Constituency has stated clearly that he is not decamping to any political party, noting that he is a bonafide member of APC and that he will contest the parliamentary election in 2023 under the platform of APC.

“In the election that produced Jega as the flagbearer of the party for the National Assembly Election next year, a delegation of our party from the national and State headquarters, as well as INEC officials and security operatives conducted and monitored the election.

“We see no reason for somebody like Jega who got 146 votes to be substituted with somebody who got only 1 vote in the election.

“We also considered the purported parallel primaries by some groups of individuals as further attempts not to only kill the party in the constituency and the entire State but to bury it.

“We hereby call on our party leaders to do the needful by halting all these sharp practices and anti-democratic actions in order to save our great party, APC.”