APC may lose Kano in 2023, Doguwa warns amid party crisis

Denies attacking Garo at stakeholders’ meeting

Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, has warned that unless the top echelon of the All Progressives Congress (APC) takes full control of the party mechanism in Kano State, the party may lose the 2023 general elections.

Besides, the ranking member of the green chamber wants Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to take full control of the party affairs to check the excesses of former Commissioner for Local Government Affairs and APC governorship running mate, Murtala Garo.

Addressing journalists, yesterday, in Kano, on the renewed crisis rocking the party, Doguwa lamented that if the forces behind the exodus of seven members of the National Assembly from Kano was not addressed, APC could lose grip of power in the state.

Prior to Doguwa’s warning, it was gathered that the legislator went physical with Garo, leaving him with injuries. The fisticuff, The Guardian learnt, ensued on Monday evening when the member, representing Tudun-Wada/Doguwa federal constituency interjected a meeting of APC stakeholders at the Bompai residence of the deputy governor, who doubles as APC gubernatorial candidate, Nasiru Gawuna.

An online platform reported that Doguwa, who came into the critical stakeholders’ meeting without formal invitation, queried the party leadership for sidelining him and members of the National Assembly caucus.

According to the source, Gawuna’s resistance threw the gathering into disarray, followed by exchange of unpleasant utterances, which led to Doguwa attacking Garo with a sharp object that injured him.

Countering the narration, however, Doguwa denied using any sharp object or inflicting any injury on Garo during the unfortunate incident.

In what appeared as divided house, Doguwa was joined by APC vice chairman, Shehu Mai Gari; the party’s spokesperson, Ahmad Aruwa; APC stalwart, Sen. Moshud Doguwa and other leaders.

Although Doguwa did not deny the exchange of unpleasant words with Garo, he insisted that the latter only slipped on a wet carpet while attempting to attack him.

“I was not invited to the meeting but I was there on the invitation of the party chairman, Abdullahi Abbas. I had called the chairman for another important discussion, but he said I should meet him at the deputy governor’s house. On arrival, I met several party leaders and stakeholders. Jokingly, I asked why the National Assembly caucus was not in attendance at a strategic stakeholders’ meeting. Immediately, Garo raised his voice to challenge me, asking if I must be invited to all APC meetings.

“When the altercation got hot, the stool with glasses of tea fell on the carpet. It was during his (Garo) attempt to hold my regalia that he fell on slippery floor and got himself injured,” Doguwa narrated.