Crisis has engulfed the Zamfara State All Progressives Congress {APC}, few weeks to the primaries of the party, following the refusal of seven governorship aspirants of the party to accept Abdul Aziz Yari’s nominee, Alhaji Muktari Shehu Idris, as the party”s flag bearer in the state.
Gov. Yari had, last week, nominated his successor, Alhaji Muktari Shehu Idris, who is currently the state Commissioner for Finance, a decision which was immediately kicked against by seven governorship aspirants who vowed to challenge the governor”s decision, even in the court of law.
The aspirants include his deputy, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala; the Minister of Defense, Brigadier General Mansur Dan Ali [rtd}; the National Assembly member from Kaura/Birnin Magaji Federal constituency, Hon. Sani Jaji; a retired Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Interior, Alhaji Abu Magaji;, a retired Executive Director, First Bank Plc, Alhaji Dauda Lawan Dare and a retired Director in the Presidency, Alhaji Sagir Hamidu. They are currently working in unison to make sure that the Governor changes his decision and allow direct primary election to select the party”s flag bearer.
the choice of the party’s governorship candidate was a collective decision of the party, after due consultation with the stakeholders, adding that it has been a long tradition in the state to nominate a governorship candidate rather than going for primary, so as not to bring disaffection among party members
The seven aspirants, who now called themselves as G7, had during a joint rally they organized in Gusau last Sunday, stressed that, the era of imposition of a candidate was over as well as undemocratic and, therefore, warned Gov. Yari to quickly change his decision for peace to reign in the state, as well as for the party to deliver come 2019.
In their separate speeches, the G7 governorship aspirants said they have chosen a direct primary election to decide a popular candidate among all the contestants, stressing that, it was the only solution that could avert more serious crises in future.
They also concluded that, they would accept and support anybody who would emerge victorious after the direct primary election was conducted, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari as well as the national secretariat of the party to wade in so as to save the party from total disintegration in the state.
Speaking to newsmen on the issue after meeting with the party’s stake holders, Gov. Yari stated that the choice of the party’s governorship candidate was a collective decision of the party, after due consultation with the stakeholders, adding that it has been a long tradition in the state to nominate a governorship candidate rather than going for primary, so as not to bring disaffection among party members.
Gov. Yari maintained that the choice of Muktar was final as far as Zamfara APC was concerned, stressing however that, anybody who was not satisfied with the arrangement could come for primary election when the time comes.
It would be recalled that Gov.Yari’s convoy was attacked penultimate Sunday when the seven aggrieved governorship candidates were having a rally in Gusau, the state capital where the Governor narrowly escaped being lynched, while several of his vehicles were seriously damaged.
Reacting on this ugly trend, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, maintained that the attack on the governor was the handiwork of the opposition who wanted to use the occasion to cause
confusion.
He declared that government would not take this lightly, calling on politicians to play politics without bitterness.
Meanwhile, the party is now in serious consultations with stakeholders both within and outside the state, with the aim of proffering a solution to the crises while the G7 have left the state for Abuja where they were also said to be meeting in a hidden place so as to thwart Gov. Yaris”s effort of choosing his successor.
