By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago, and other stakeholders of the party, have raised the alarm over an alleged alteration of the original list of Niger State All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates already recognised by law.
He warned, in a petition to the Niger State Governor, Sani Bello, that the Chief of Staff, Alh. Balarabe Ibrahim, who is accused of being behind the act, must be called to order to prevent a disintegration of the party.
The Member of the House of Representatives who contested for the seat of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2019, informed the Governor that the names of the duly elected delegates were being replaced by members of the State Working Committee and State Government appointees.
Bago, who signed the petition titled ”Resolution of concerned APC/National Assembly/State Assembly Aspirants in Niger State,” on behalf of 8 others, stressed that the Electoral Act is clear on the implications of using unlawful delegates, adding that action must be taken to avert an occurrence of the Zamfara episode in the state.
He said in the document: ”As loyalists, we are deeply concerned by these issues, especially the tampering with the original list of the delegates by a select members of the State Working Committee and State Government appointees. This behaviour, inconsistent with the principle of our party and democracy, cannot be allowed to sustain, yet all efforts to bring it to the fore were not addressed satisfactorily, thereby undermining the integrity of the party and raising concerns for the prospects of the level playing ground promised repeatedly by the leader of the party in the state, the Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Sani Bello.”
Furthermore, he added: ”Events of the last 48 hours revealed that there was tampering by a clique within the party that has altered some names to provide undue advantage and it has come to the notice of some aspirants that some people have even collected money from individuals in the name of giving them delegate forms. This questionable behaviour of doubtful legacy is disconcerting, and holds a promise of disharmony amongst the makeup of the party, and if left to pass without retribution, would gravely hinder the chances of the party at success in the coming general election.”
In addition, he informed the Governor that the Organising Secretary of the party, Alhaji Muka, had been ”collecting several millions under false pretence to sell forms to aspirants, which were not executed.”
He added that evidence to back up the claim is readily available.
The Lawmaker concluded that a quick resolution of the perceived injustices that are about to happen, ”laced with inequities, lack of transparency and tortuous journey to a smooth primary election at various levels can no longer be guaranteed by the current state executives.”
Other petitioners are HE, Ahmad Muhammad Ketso, Prof. Mohammed Kuta Yahaya, Mohammed Nda, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, Engr. Muhammad Rufai, Dr. M.K Muhammad and Alhaji Idris Aliyu Ruga.
The petition was copied to the National Chairman of the APC, the State Chairman of the APC, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the DSS, INEC Chairman, Niger State Police Commissioner and Niger State DSS Director.