The Niger state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Haliru Jikantoro, has been suspended by his ward for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities.
In a letter dated March 2, 2023, and signed by the executives of the APC in Kwashini ward, Agwara local government area of the state, the party leader was accused of engaging in anti-party activities before and during the general elections in a way that undermined the success of the party at the just concluded polls.
However, state chapter of the party has nullified the decision, describing it as the handiwork of the opposition.
The letter signed by ward chairman and secretary, Amadu Abdullahi Yagode and Nurudeen Abdullahi respectively, further alleged Jikantoro was using party funds to mobilise and canvass votes for the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and sabotaging efforts by the APC to grow its support base ahead of the elections.
It was also signed by some 19 other Exco members of Kashini ward.
“We the Executive of the Kashini Ward of the All Progressive Congress (APC) under Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State hereby suspend Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro from Kashini.
“This suspension became expedient as a result of the flagrant violation and disregards of the All Progressive Congress Constitution by Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, the State Party Chairman of the APC, couple with some acts committed by Hon. Haliru calculated to undermine the success of our party during the just concluded 2023 Presidential and National Assembly election conducted on the 25th February, 2023,” the letter read in part.
But the state chapter of the party quashed the purported suspension, describing it as an effort in futility.
In a statement issued Sunday on behalf of the State Working Committee(SWC) of the APC, the state publicity secretary, Musa D. Sarrkinkaji, said the nullified the suspension which he said was the handwork of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“The state Executive Committee of the party described the purported suspension as callous, heartless and figment of the imagination of the peddlers and efforts in futility by detractors especially by members of the opposition party, the PDP”, the spokesman said.
He said the opposition had embarked on futile attempts to divide APC following PDP’s poor performance in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“Based on the party’s constitution in Article 21, the suspension of a member of the state executive and of high esteem of the state Chairman Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro must be channelled through the LGA party office , Zonal and state Working Committee for rectification after due consultation. This due process was not done therefore the exercise is null and void and of no effect,” he said.
Also in a separate reaction, the secretary of the party in the state, Barrister Khaleel Ibrahim, said the masterminds of the suspension claim were stooges of the opposition within the party positioned to distract members of the APC from focusing on the forthcoming Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.
He said: “No matter their antics and plots we will remain focused, resolute and work very hard to win the Gubernatorial and house of assembly elections.”
