By our correspondent
The All Peoples Congress (APC), Kaduna state, has concluded its three days screening exercise of candidates contesting for the position of councilors across the 23 local government areas in an exercise characterised by complaints and alleged constitutional breeches.
For example, Chairman of the State Working Committee (SWC), (screening committee), is the Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Alhaji Dahiru Liman, contrary to the party’s constitution as Amended March 26, 2022.
The chairman, while answering questions from newsmen shortly after the end of the screening, Monday, however said that the exercise witnessed a good turnout and was successfully completed.
He said all those screened are all qualified to contest in the upcoming general elections and expressed hoped and pray that they all emerged winners.
The speaker also urged hundreds of Councillorship candidates to do a clean campaign and remained law abiding.
In an interview with one of the candidates, Honourable Mrs. Shebakura Ura from Dora ward in Jaba local government area of Kaduna state, expressed delight and appreciated the committee and the party leadership for the smooth conduct of the exercise.
However, the entire exercise was not without complaints as both male and female aspirants for chairmanship and councillorship had earlier reportedly criticized the process as flood with malpractice, alleging that candidates were selected (hand pick) rather than elected as prescribed by the party”s constitution.
A highly placed APC Stewart who promised anonymity, who confirmed the allegations, also revealed that articles 13.8vii and articles 20. 1-4 of the party constitution was violated as the process lacked credibility and were without internal democracy.
According to the insider source, a new bank account was also opened and monies realised from the sale of forms and other financial incomes went into the accounts different from the state party account, in breech and completely violation of articles 13.8ii of the party’s constitution.
All effort to get the party officials to speaks in the alleged constitutional breech flubbed as they couldn’t be reached due to protocol, security, and inability to pick up their calls or respond to SMS messages sent to them as well.
Recalled the APC constitution as Amended March 26, 2022, is explicitly cleared about the procedure, especially in article 13.8vii and article 20: 1-4, on composition of SWC, respectively.
Additionally, a victim of APC who spoke to our correspondent in confidence noted that the party’s State Working Committee neither met nor approve the setting up of any committee as claimed by the state and presented.
“Even the person (Salisu Wusono, publicity secretary) purported to have signed that release did not know anything about it,” the source revealed.
However, a statement obtained by our correspondent through the aggrieved party members stated that the party’s SWC approved the appointment of 25 individuals to serve as members of the elections committee.”
The statement purportedly signed by Publicity Secretary, Salisu Tanko Wusonu, later confirmed to be the State Secretary of the party, when contacted, however read in parts:
“Appointment of Election Committee Members: Following the release of guidelines and Election Timetable by the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) for the conduct of the 2024 Local Government Council Elections, the State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in exercise of its power as provided in Article 20:1-4 of the party Constitution (as amended), has approved the appointment of the following esteemed individuals to serve as Members of the Elections Committee:
1) Rt. Hon Yusuf Dahiru Liman Chairman
2) Rt. Hon. Barr. Henry Danjuma Magaji Member
3) Rt. Hon. Aminu Abdullahi Shegali Member
4) Rt. Hon Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani Member
5) Hon. Munira Suleiman Tanimu Member
6) Hon. Samaila Abdu Suleiman Member
7) Patience Fakai Member
8) Hon. Bashir Zuntu Member
9) Sule Shuaibu, SAN Member
10) Hon. Atiku Sankey Member
11) Barr. Mustapha Musa Member
12) Abdul Ishaq Member
13) Jerry Adams Member
14) Zakari Ya’u Lawal Member
15) Hon. Kawu Yakasai Member
16) Barr. Aisha Ahmed Mohammed Member
17) Arc. Abubakar Rabiu Abubakar Member
18) Barr. Neymarie Francisca Member
19) Sakina Garba Member
20) Hon. Ruth Jummai Ango Member
21) Hafsat Aminu Ashiru Member
22) Zone 1 Party Chairman Member
23) Zone 2 Party Chairman Member
24) Zone 3 Party Chairman Member
25) Yahaya Baba Pate Member/Secretary
The appointees were carefully selected based on their outstanding track records, unwavering integrity, and devotions to the tenets of the party.
The party is confident that their wealth of experience and unblemished reputations will greatly contribute to the success of this important task.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) expect the newly appointed members of the Elections Committee will leverage their experience to ensure smooth primary elections as well as success in the general elections.
Signed: Hon. Salisu Tanko Wusonu
State Publicity Secretary,
All Progressives Congress
Kaduna State Chapter
July 21st, 2024
APC Chairman Kad: Kaduna LG Party primaries Election, “it stated.
But when contacted and addressed as publicity , secretary, Hon. Wusonu responded that it was the state party’s secretary and not Publicity Secretary as stated in the above statement, adding “Hi, its State Secretary sir.” End
