The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State is still grappling with internal crisis after the party’s national fact-finding committee failed to resolve internal disputes arising from the recent State Congress.
The committee led by the deputy national secretary of the party, Prof. Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, SAN, was mandated by the national chairman of APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, to engage party’s new executives and address grievances arising from the recent Bauchi state congress.
However, the reconciliation meeting held on Thursday at the party’s secretariat in Bauchi ended in confusion.
LEADERSHIP reports that the crisis is arising from disputes over some positions, particularly that of the State Secretary. While one faction insists that Mustapha Zurami emerged as secretary, another group claims that Alhaji Aminu Na’iya Mohammed is the rightful occupant of the position.
The situation has been further confounded by allegations that some governorship aspirants are backing their loyalties to be in the party leadership, deepening divisions within the party.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana said he was unable to meet with the State Executive Committee (EXCO) as planned.
“I came to meet with the EXCO, but I did not get the opportunity to do that. I will return to Abuja and brief the National Chairman and the National Working Committee accordingly,” he said.
The meeting was reportedly in confusion with a large crowd that gathered at the secretariat amid speculation that the committee had come to inaugurate a new set of party officials.
Prof. Kana cited security concerns as a major reason for the failure to proceed with the engagement, noting that the environment was not conducive for meaningful dialogue.
“This was meant to be a meeting with EXCO, not an open market. When the situation became unsafe, there was no point continuing,” he explained.
Prof. Kana explained that if the meeting is not held and the issues surrounding the Bauchi State EXCO remain unresolved, the Bauchi delegation may not be eligible to participate in the national convention. However, he added that if the meeting is eventually convened and the disputes are settled, the state will be cleared to take part in the convention.
Hon. Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi, a former member of the House of Representatives for Bauchi Federal Constituency, explained that the crowd at the secretariat was triggered by rumours that the committee had arrived from Abuja to conduct another swearing-in of APC EXCO in Bauchi, despite the fact that the executives had already been inaugurated on Wednesday.
“The oath had already been administered and widely reported in the media. When people heard that another swearing-in was to take place, they became agitated and trooped to the secretariat,” Yakubu said.
Responding, the committee chairman stated, “I was informed by you about the swearing-in. As I said earlier, my mission here is to meet with the EXCO.”
However, after the committee clarified that no swearing-in exercise was planned, efforts were made to calm tensions and disperse the crowd from the hall, leaving only the State Executive Committee (EXCO) members for the meeting and the reconsolidation committee.
A brief closed-door session was subsequently held between the committee and the EXCO, but it ended within minutes and ended unresolved.
Despite the intervention, the meeting ended unresolved, with both committee members and party executives leaving the venue without addressing the core issues.
Efforts by journalists to obtain comments from the committee chairman and other participants after the meeting were unsuccessful, as they declined to speak.
LEADERSHIP reports that on Wednesday the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State has inaugurated and sworn in 36 newly – elected State Executive Council members, with Alhaji Muhammad Hassan Tilde serving as the State Chairman.
The oath of office was administered on Wednesday at the state Party Secretariat by Barrister Abdulmumini Adamu and presented them with certificates.
It reports that out of the 36 elected officials, 29 were sworn-in during the ceremony, while 7 were absent.
Those sworn-in include the Bauchi state chairman, Muhammad Hassan Tilde; State Secretary, Mustapha Zurami; Zonal Vice Chairmen Yusuf Kawu Gana II and Ibrahim Ahmad (Zone III); Legal Adviser, Barr. Rabiu Garba; Assistant Legal Adviser, Mohammed A. Umar; State Treasurer, Ahmed Abubakar Yaro; Financial Secretary, Bilya Usman Burna; and Assistant Financial Secretary, Lamara Ahmad Jajo.
Others are State Organising Secretary, Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad; Auditor, Ayuba Musa; and Publicity Secretary, Shehu Dauda Mohammed; State welfare Secretary, Ibrahim Gambo; state women leader Rabi Musa, among others.
However, 7 officials were not present at the swearing-in. They include Vice Chairman Ibrahim Makama; Assistant Secretary Rifkatu Samson Daniel; Zonal Vice Chairman I, Abdulmumini Kundak; and State Treasurer Alhaji Hassan Lawal, among others.
Tilde explained that although the party elections were held on March 3, the swearing-in was delayed until March 25 due to procedural requirements.
The group that was not sworn in maintained that Alhaji Aminu Na’iya Mohammed is the legitimate party secretary, with Muhammad Bello Sallau Kafi as State Organising Secretary among others positions. However, all the parties were present at the meeting, which made it impossible to resolve the crisis.
