The Adamawa State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been suspended indefinitely.
The suspended executive members have been the only support ligament to Governor Jibirilla Bindow’s survival beyond 2019 in the politics of the party.
The suspension which is due to be made public anytime soon, was arrived at following a petition by major stakeholders, including former Secretary-General of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; former Chairman of the EConomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and President Muhammadu Buhari’s in-law, Dr. Mahmood Halilu Modi.
However, when contacted, Ahmed Lawan, State Organising Secretary of the party, said: “I’m only aware of a directive from the national secretariat, which only barred the State Working Committee from participating in the forthcoming primaries.”
Adamawa chapter of the ruling party has been embroiled in a protracted crisis leading to factionalisation and subsequent exit of key chieftains, such as Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako.
With this development, it is almost clear as to where the pendulum will swing in Saturday’s scheduled governorship primary election, as preliminary information on the suspension has turned Modi’s Yola residence to a Mecca of sorts.
As things stand, there are plans to draft security personnel to seal the APC state secretariat, in order to keep suspended state executives out.
Meanwhile, a crowd, majority of whom are APC card-carrying members in Bindow’s Mubi home town, have pledged their loyalty to Modi, saying “we’ll work to return him at the primary and general elections”.
A mild drama occurred at the palace of the Emir of Mubi, as thugs loyal to Bindow attempted to prevent Modi from entering the palace to confer with the Emir, Abubakar Isa Ahmadu.
The situation almost turned violent, as security operatives attached to Modi had to fire warning shots to scare away the hoodlums.