By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
Over 1,000 delegates from the 21 local government areas of Kebbi State participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) state congress held in Birnin Kebbi, which returned Abubakar Kana as the party chairman for a second term.
The congress was attended by all APC stakeholders, led by Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, except three senators who recently defected to the party from the Peoples Democratic Party.
The chairman of the state congress committee, Modibbo Bello, said the exercise was based on a consensus arrangement and was conducted peacefully under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In his remarks, Governor Idris said former governors of the state from 1999 to 2023 had played vital roles in fostering unity in Kebbi, adding that his administration was building on that foundation for greater progress.
“I congratulate all those elected and commend the committee from Abuja for ensuring a peaceful and transparent congress.
“I urge party members to continue to work together for the progress of our party. This congress stands out as one of the best in the country,” the governor said.
In a twist of events, the three senators who recently defected from the PDP to the APC were absent from the congress, and none of their supporters was seen at the venue.
They are Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central; Yahaya Abdullahi, representing Kebbi North; and Garba Maidoki, representing Kebbi South.
Loyalists and close associates of the lawmakers told our correspondent, on condition of anonymity, that since the commencement of the congresses, none of their members was carried along from the ward level up to the local government congresses.
The sources alleged that in the case of Senator Aliero, a former governor of the state, none of his loyalists was given any position at the ward level, let alone at the local government level.
“This is what also happened in the wards and local government areas of the other two senators. We do not understand the intention behind this, especially when there were arrangements and agreements before we joined the party,” the sources said.