Uncertainty beclouds APC state congress in Bauchi

IN Bauchi, state uncertainty is beclouding the conduct of the state congress of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) following a suit instituted in a Federal High Court in Abuja by the faction of the party loyal to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara seeking for the conduct of the exercise.

Investigations by our Bauchi state correspondent revealed that the Speaker was joined in instituting the suit by nine others who are against the conduct of the wards and local government congresses of the party earlier held due to what they described as irreconcilable political differences.

An inside source of the faction told our correspondent that the group had to approach the Court in Abuja to challenge the conduct of the ward and local government congresses held in the State when the party machinery refused to listen and treat their petition on merit.

The source further disclosed that the faction is also seeking for an interim and interlocutory injunctions restraining the defendants (APC) from proceeding with Saturday’s state congress of the party in the State.

Checks revealed that Yakubu Dogara and other party chieftains of the party loyal to him had in a letter addressed to the APC Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, dated May 17, 2018, notified him of the pendency of the suit challenging the result of the already conducted wards and local government congresses of the party held on May 5 and 12, 2018 for being in violation of the party’s constitution.

The letter which was signed by the counsel to the faction, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN), also demanded the cancellation of the planned state congress “In view of the long-settled principle of law that when a suit is pending in court, parties are not allowed to take steps that will have nugatory effect on the outcome of the suit or foist on the court a fait accompli.”

Others who are part of the suit as plaintiffs are Senators Sulaiman Nazif, Isa Hammah Misau representing Bauchi North and Central senatorial districts respectively, a former Senator Muhammad Muhammad, a former gubernatorial aspirant in the 2015 party primaries who is still aspiring in the 2019 contest, Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, Hon. Ibrahim Zailani, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Captain Mohammed Bala Jibrin, Hon. Mohammed Aminu Tukur, and Hon. Maryam Garba Bagel members of the State House of Assembly representing Lere/Bula/Tafawa Balewa and Dass state constituencies respectively.

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All efforts to get the State Secretariat of the party to react to the development proved abortive as no official of the party was available when our correspondent visited the state party secretariat of the party along Maiduguri road.

While speaking to our correspondent on phone, State Police Command PPRO, DSP Kamal Datti Abubakar said that the Command is ready to ensure a hitch-free conduct of the exercise.

The PPRO said that already officers and men of the Command particularly the Divisions within Bauchi metropolis have been mobilized to ensure law and order before, during and after the exercise.

He then warned that anyone no matter his or her status who has no business in the exercise should in the interest of peace steer clear of the venue of the exercise.