Rep, Aminu Jaji (APC-Zamfara), has called on the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cancel the just-concluded Wards and LGAs congresses of the party in Zamfara over some alleged irregularities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC National Secretariat committee for the party congresses in Zamfara on Sunday announced conclusion of the peaceful wards and local government congresses across the 147 wards and 14 LGAs in Zamfara.
The committee said the exercise was conducted successfully without any irregularities.
Bu Jaji, who is representing Kaura-Namoda and Birnin-Magaji Federal Constituency, at a press briefing in Gusau on Monday, described the wards and LGAs congresses in the state as null and void over alleged irregularities.
He said, “I am addressing you today regarding our party congresses which held on the 18th and 21st. February.”
Jaji alleged that the committee sent from the national headquarters of APC conspired with some members and other elements and abused the dignity of APC members in the state at the just-concluded “kangaroo Ward and LGAs congresses.
He added, “Some members were denied equal opportunity to participate in the party’s congresses at ward and local government levels, in spite of paying for the nomination and expression forms via party-designated accounts.
“Members approached the state Organising Secretary to obtain the forms, but were denied.
“The state Organising Secretary pursued their complaints, but the National Secretariat of the party has not responded.
“We are much concerned about the reported kangaroo congresses held without APC members’ participation, contradicting our party constitution,”Jaji insisted.
He further alleged that some participants of the congresses were PDP members and other opposition parties, undermining the party’s guidelines.
Jaji continued, “We call on the National Chairman to
address and cancel the kangaroo congresses of the party in the state.
“We are also appealing to the national working committee of the party to dissolve the state working committee for inclusivity and fairness.
-“We are expecting the National Secretariat to announce a new date for free and fair congress in Zamfara.
“We appeal to the Minister of State for Defence and immediate past governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, as party leader in the state to intervene and save the party.
“We also urge the committee constituted by the President to reconcile APC members to intervene and resolve the lingering crisis in the state to avert the repeat the 2019 incidents.”
He, however, appealed to the party’s members who were denied their rights to contest in the congresses to remain calm and wait for appropriate updates.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of APC congresses committee in the state, Babande Imam,who dismissed the allegations, said the exercise was conducted successfully across the state
without any irregularities.
According to him, both the wards and LGAs congresses in Zamfara recorded an impressive turnout of the party’s stakeholders and members across the state.
“All the party’s wards and LGAs executives produced by the congresses emerged through sincere consensus and affirmation.
“The congresses were monitored by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, party officials from the APC National Secretariat, Abuja, and the state APC representatives,” Imam added
