From Fatima Bukar
Thousands of supporters loyal to Senators Shehu Sani and Suleiman Hunkuyi of the All Peoples Congress (APC) Akida faction in Kaduna pulled out of the party on Friday, July 13, 2018.
The state chairman of the Akida Faction, Tom Maiyashi and legal adviser, Ja’afaru Abas Ibrahim of the Restoration Group made the announcement at a joint press conference in Kaduna.
Senators Sani and Hunkuyi, who have been engaged in a prolonged rivalry with Governor Nasir el-Rufai, are members of the “Akida” and “Restoration Group” factions of the APC.
The statement is as follows:
“This joint press conference is the culmination of extensive reviews and consultations over the state of the All Progressives, Congress (APC) in Kaduna state as well as in the nation,” Maiyashi said.
“As you will appreciate, groups such as ours that had been on the frontline of the efforts to keep our party along the lines of survival, accountability and integrity, will be diligent in ensuring that whatever steps we take, are consistent with our high sense of responsibility.
“We are satisfied that the positions we have arrived at are in the best interests of our members and the ongoing-efforts to create options and strategies that will rid our nation of undeserved and avoidable challenges.
“Members of our two groups have decided to leave the APC because it is incapable of accommodating and responding to well-meaning dissent, criticism and demands for inclusiveness and internal democracy,” he added.
“We want to commend the resilience and commitment of our members in the face of institutionalised exclusion, marginalisation and abuse. We urge them all to keep faith” Maiyashi noted.
It will be recalled that Kaduna Senators recently opposed Governor El-Rufai’s loan request at the Senate while he demolished a building the factions were using as an office belonging to Senator Hunkyi which made President Buhari jokingly called him “Bulldozer” in a meeting.
Both groups also advised their teeming members to formalise their withdrawal from the APC even though they are yet to disclose the political party they are moving into.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
