The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state is in disarray over a N700 million bribe allegedly offered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Consequently, a splinter APC executive committee has been formed to protest against the leadership of the party in the state for betraying the members.
Musa Ibrahim led other members of the national assembly and state assembly on Monday to hold an election that produced a new state executive committee under the chairmanship of Baba Aminu.
Speaking after the election held at the Abdulsalami youth centre in Minna, he insisted that his group is now the authentic APC executive in Niger state.
He said, “Our elected Officers are sellout, they took N700 million bribe from the PDP: In fact, they have used part of the money to pay the rent for our new party (APC) secretariat,” he alleged.
However, an executive committee member of APC, Umar Shuaibu, kicked against the purported election of new executive committee, insisting that what they did was illegal.
Shuaibu said, “I have full evidences by way of evidences that were sent to me by the national Youth Leader himself to conduct the election on the 11th of November. Now, we have conducted that election, a national Executive member was here to conduct the election, we did not conduct the election ourselves.
“He was satisfied with the election conduct where Alhaji Ibrahim Shettima was elected as Chairman, and up till date I have not heard that our election has been nullified.
“So, we are answerable to our national Vice Chairman. He directed accordingly at the Executive meeting at the national level that the harmonization committee that has been constituted and they should elect their leaders.”
On the alleged N700 million bribe said to have been received from the PDP, Shuaibu denied the allegations, saying “It is very malicious, it is a big lie.
“I can tell you now as the Chairman of CPC, if I can be bought over, I ought to have been bought over during the elections in Niger State. We know the challenges we had in Niger state, we know the enticement we had as CPC leaders. I refused to be bought over. Therefore, it is cheap blackmail.
“People have contributed to acquire the party’s office, and we have people who are committed to the party. David Umaru gave us N3.2 million, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello gave us N2.5 million, Sam Ndah Isaiah gave us N3.2 million, we are not hiding it, the money is meant to fund the secretariat and we are transparent in whatever we are doing”
“I have a state secretariat, I want any of the members both those in the National and State House Assembly to tell me that he has contributed a dime to the State Secretariat of the CPC, I am challenging them. Since their election, I am challenging them to show us a single vehicle they bought for the party as CPC representatives in Niger state.
“Now, we have new party (APC) office; ask them if they have contributed a dime to that effect. They are people who do not live up to their responsibilities. We have challenged the Niger State Government as a CPC Chairman, we called a press conference, but none of them turned up.”
Asked if members of the splinter group would be sanctioned, he said, “instead of sanctions that will drop them as members, we believe in dialogue. We met and advised them to change for the progress and well-being of the party.”
