Zamfara APC congress, an ambush ― Senator Marafa

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Senator Kabiru Marafa has dismissed the ward congress conducted in Gusau, Zamfara State capital as a nullity.

He dropped  the hint that he would challenge the outcome of the process in court.

Senator Marafa said the Ward Congress was ambush as he noted that the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee had earlier announced the suspension of the conduct of ward, local and state congresses in Zamfara State.

Nigerian Tribune checks revealed that the APC CECPC in a memo dated November 5 , 2021 signed by the national Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, addressed to the chairman of the Zamfara State Congress Committee, Ibrahim Kabir Masari,  the national secretariat informed the latter of the suspension of his Committee earlier given the mandate to    conduct the ward Congress.

The memo  entitled, “Suspension of the Ward Congress Committee of Zamfara State,” premised the action on need for further consultations to engender a seamless exercise.”

Senator Marafa further noted that by provisions of the Electoral Act, the APC CECPC ought to have given a 21 days notice to stakeholders in the North West state before conducting a Congress,having earlier announced a suspension. He equally justified the conduct of a parallel Congress by his faction of APC.

He said: “This is an exercise in futility, but since we weren’t given the notice, I opted to hold my own Congress and elect my own leaders.

“What they have done in Zamfara is an exercise in futility, it can’t stand the test of integrity and justice.

“Notice is very key. Electoral Act 2021 as amended made it mandatory for INEC to be give a notice of 21 days. I am not surprised because Governor  Buni didn’t go to school. The Electoral Act supersedes the APC guidelines if they have any. Only the Constitution supersedes the Electoral Act.

Having announced suspension of the ward and local government congresses, by this suspension, if you are going to do it, you have to give us notice. So, INEC wasn’t given notice. This can’t hold anywhere, they are just wasting the party resources. 

“We only joined them to hold our congress because nobody has a monopoly on madness. You can’t give 24 hours notice, it is against the law.

“But I must tell you that we conducted our own Congresses and it was done in a mature way. 

I believe in the leadership of INEC and I know they will do the right thing like they did in 2018. But no doubt what they did was an exercise in futility.

But Nigerians must know that factions will continue in Zamfara because of the way Mala Buni is suppressing us in Zamfara. But I must tell him that Zamfara isn’t Yobe. He should let sleeping dogs lie.

“I am  going to Court, I told Buni not to push us to the wall, but he is doing it. Governor Buni Committee is an illegality, let him meet me in Court. Buni has looked for my trouble and I will give him.

“They went to conduct Congress without respecting their own decision suspending the exercise. That’s impunity. The Constitution says you can always go to Court when you feel aggrieved. When you stop people from going to Court to seek redress, you are inviting anarchy. “

The Yobe State Governor and Chairman of the APCECPC, Governor Buni however dismissed Senator Marafa as a sinking politician.

Governor Buni who spoke through his Director General, Media and Public Affairs, Mamman Mohammed said Senator Marafa was complaining because he lost out in the ward congress conducted.

Governor Buni said it was wrong for Senator Marafa to dismiss the process in which he participated and lost as a charade and lacking legality. 

He said: “Marafa’s vituperations are nothing but an empty ranting of an ant. He described the Zamfara Congress as an illegality, if it is so, why did he participate and if he is in doubt of the party’s leadership why did he adhere  to every directive it issued?

“He is only complaining now because his camp  failed  the congress and lost out. He wouldn’t have been shouting if he had won.  Marafa is a sinking politician who lost out and holding everyone responsible for his self inflicted political misfortune. As a responsible politician, he should just approach the court and stop being the complainant and juror.”

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