Controversy trails APC ward congress in Bauchi

CONTROVERSY trailed the conduct of the ward congresses of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bauchi State as a faction of the party believed to be loyal to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and other members of the National Assembly from the state warned the Chairman of the Ward and Local Government Congress Committee, Dr. Tony Macfoy, to abide by the guidelines of the party during the conduct of the congresses.

In a letter of petition addressed to the state chairman of the APC, Alhaji Uba Ahmed Nana, dated May 4, 2018 copies of which were made available to Journalists, a member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly representing Lere/Bula Constituency, Mohammed Aminu Tukur, expressed worry that the state chapter of the party issued directives that only forms that came through the party office in the state would be valid for the conduct of the ward election contrary to the national secretariat position.

Aminu Tukur who is assigned for the same exercise in Edo State stated that the position of the APC Chairman was in contradiction of the National office of the party that, “forms are given to the state committees on the directives of the national leadership of the party to be sold to candidates/aspirants who may be denied such forms on the instructions of some sitting Governors as applied to Bauchi state.”

ALSO READ: Ekiti APC primary: Tinubu, Buhari’s ministers in test of will

He further stated that “In view of the above, you are hereby requested to allow for free flow of democratic principles without being biased” warning that, “Any breach of peace and security in this regard, you would be held responsible.”

In the same vein, Senator Nazif Suleiman Gamawa representing Bauchi North senatorial district expressed angst over the delay in providing materials for the exercise alleging that
there was a ploy by the State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar to deny candidates not loyal to him from contesting the ward congresses.

Nazif Gamawa said, “Everybody is geared towards the elections. We are fully ready. We paid about N13 million for tellers for the purchase of the forms but to our greatest surprise we haven’t got the forms as at the time I am speaking to you and it is surprising that we look for the committee that is charged with conducting the election and they are yet to be found.”

He frowned at the last meeting they had was with the Governor at Government House which he said was
supposed to be held at the party office but to “our greatest surprise there was no meeting at the party secretariat.”

“We were shocked that the Chairman of the ward/local government congress committee was praising the Governor instead of telling us how the election was going to hold. He left his responsibility to say that the election would be controlled. I have been in politics for 26 years and have not heard of the word controlled election.”

He added that “We have paid for the forms and we believe that the forms should be given to those that will contest and up till this moment we haven’t got them and our supporters and executives who we bought these forms for do not have these forms(nomination forms.”

Senator Nazif Gamawa also alleged that the Macfoy led committee came in two forms, one for the coordinators of the governor and the other to “whom they wanted to give to. We thought it was going to be an all-inclusive election and the people of Bauchi are waiting but unfortunately, only one group has forms that belong to the government house.”

The concerned Senator said that the group had to call the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun who assured that, “If forms are not given to those who purchased them, then the elections stands nullified.”

While reacting to the allegations of siding one group loyal to the State Governor, Tony Macfoy stated that it was untrue marinating that there are no factions in the APC, “Don’t bring us that word group. There is no division in the APC. We are one family. There are family intrigues and politics but does that mean there is a faction?”

While assuring that the committee would be fair in the conduct of the ward congresses, Tony Macfoy said that they
party would abide by the guidelines in the conduct of the ward congress election in the state.

On the delay in mobilising materials for the exercise to the 20 local government areas to cover the 212 wards in the state, the Chairman said it was due to their late arrival to the state on Friday, assuring that materials have been deployed the conduct of the exercise adding that it would hold on the stated date.

Our correspondent gathered that 27 positions are being contested for in each of the 212 wards in the state bringing the total of positions to 5, 724.