Kaduna: Senators Shehu Sani, Hunkuyi Set to Dump APC

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Friday, May 25th, 2018

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The crisis in the Kaduna State chapter of the ruling APC is far from being over, as the Sen Suleiman Hunkuyi-led faction says it is considering option of defecting to another political party.

Prominent members of the faction include: activist and serving Senator, Shehu Seni, former APC Governorship aspirant Isah Ashiru, Mr. Mataimaki Tom Maiyashi, among others.

The faction which is otherwise being referred to as Akida, in a statement it issued Kaduna Friday and signed by its Chairman Mr. Tom Maiyashi, said it has concluded a review of the state chapter of the party; governance issues in the state and the nation, hence, its resolve to leave the party it worked hard to put in place.

The group threatened it would take the decision “if there is no visible evidence of success in addressing the damaging levels of alienation and frustration among the millions of party faithful in Kaduna State”.

The Chairman said two recent events in the state chapter of the party have confirmed its fears of the absence of credible and legitimate party leadership.

These, he said, were capable of destroying the credibility and popularity of the party.

“The party congresses, and the Local Government Councils elections, in Kaduna State have confirmed the fears that the absence of credible and legitimate party leadership in our state will destroy its credibility and popularity.

“These are fears which the Akida group had raised since the early days of the administration of Nasir el-Rufai.

“The congresses have exposed the contempt for popular participation by the Governor and his hand-picked choir.

“Our party has lost massive popularity and goodwill as a result of attempts to force the choices of an unpopular government on party faithful” Maiyashi stated.

Maiyashi said those who emerged as leaders of the party from the congresses enjoy no support or legitimacy among party members.

“It has become painfully aware that all efforts to halt the damage being done to our party ,including many attempts by the leadership of the APC at zonal and national levels, are unlikely to reverse the decline in our party’s capacity to live up to its promises made to the people in 2015.

“The Akida group has informed all relevant party organs and leaders that it will regretfully consider leaving a party it worked hard to put in place if there is no visible evidence of success in addressing the damaging levels of alienation and frustration among the millions of party faithful in Kaduna State.

“As things stand, the founding values of our party, particularly integrity, accountability, inclusiveness and compassion have been systematically repudiated by the government of Nasir el-Rufai, starting with the subversion of the autonomy and integrity of the party at all levels in the state.

“We appeal to anyone with authority or influence over the governor to use it responsibly to head off a looming disaster in the shape of a party that has lost its foundations and integrity,” the factional head stressed.