The crisis of confidence between aggrieved members of the All Progressive Congress and the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led national caretaker committee took a turn for the worse on Saturday.
This followed the decision of supporters of the Senator Kabiru Marafa-led faction of the party in Zamfara State to hold fresh congress to elect new state officials for the party.
Thousands of members of the APC who pledged allegiance to Marafa from across the 14 local government areas of Zamfara State, gathered in Gusau the state capital and elected Alhaji Surajo Maikatako, as the new state chairman.
It was reported that Marafa and his supporters successfully had before now held ward and local government congresses.
Saturday’s exercise was held peacefully under the watchful eyes of security operatives.
In his acceptance speech, the new factional state chairman, Maikatako, expressed gratitude to members of the party for the confidence reposed in him.
He said, “With the peaceful conduct of the exercise, we are on the right path of consolidating our hold in Zamfara State, North West and the entire country. While wishing you safe trips back to your respective homes, I assure you that I will not let you down in this journey to rescue our state.”
He commended security agencies for the support given to them during the exercise.
Other members of the State Working Committee are: Dan Malam Mai Yadi (Vice Chairman), Nasiru Muhammad Gummi (Secretary), Auwalu Garba Alhazzai (Treasurer), Babangida and Abubakar Gusau (Legal Adviser).
Also elected are; Mamuda Gaba (Financial Secretary), Bello Bakyasuwa (Publicity Secretary), Kabiru Rabiu (Auditor), Lauwali Bello Viara (Youth Leader), Hussaini Dan Isha (Welfare Secretary), Nafisa Ahmad (Women Leader) and Abubakar Usman Gora (Organising Secretary).
In a related development, the leader of the faction, Marafa debunked speculations making the rounds that his political ally and former Governor of the State, Abdulaziz Yari, had dumped the APC to join the Peoples Democratic Party.
He described the speculations as “wishful thinking of minions”.
Marafa said, “We are senior engineers and architects in the project team that designed, built and maintained APC from inception to date. This is the wishful thinking of the minions parading themselves as the new owners of APC today.
“We are not going to leave the complex in the hands of those who were labourers, masons, plumbers and carpenters in the design and construction days, no way. We are not going anywhere. Emir no de go transfer,” he added.
Attempts to get an official reaction from the national leadership of the APC were futile.
Calls to the mobile telephone number of the National Secretary indicated that it was out of reach while a response to a text message sent to him was still being awaited as at the time of filing this report.
However, a top-ranking member of the party who pleaded anonymity said, “This, like several similar exercises is an exercise in futility. The APC is one family and those who are out to cause division will continue to fail.”
(The PUNCH)
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