**As party resort to witch hunt through proxy allegations against council chairmen
In an attempt to take control over party’s delegates at the Local Government level ahead of the forthcoming convention by the Governor Muhammad Badaru led Government, some Local Council chairmen in Jigawa State have been accused of Financial Misconduct.
The House of Assembly it was gathered has become a pawn in the political chess game of the APC led Government in the State.
Opposition is already mounting ahead of the primary election against some of the strange decisions
The Chairman of Yankwashi Local Government council, Mubarak Ahmad, is on indefinite suspension already for alleged financial misconduct
The State Assembly had embarked on the investigation of seven local government councils in the state.
The chairman house committee on information who is the member representing Kafinhausa constituency, Honourable Muhammed Na’im made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on the state assembly decisions over the local councils.
Honourable Na’im said the suspension of the council boss followed a petition from the state’s party (APC) chairman, Honourable Aminu Sami Gumel alleging gross disrespect to the party.
However, it was gathered that the only offense of the suspended chairman was because he protested against the list of party delegates submitted to his council by the state’s party secretariat
The chairman had faulted the said list as being improper according to the electoral law, APC approved constitution and guidelines.
But the Assembly at its plenary took a decision and announced the suspension of Mr Ahmad indefinitely’ on alleged disrespect and indiscipline in a petition sent to it by the state’s APC chairman, Aminu Gumel.
According to the chairman house committee on Information “The lawmakers sanctioned the council chairman following a petition by the state’s APC chairman submitted to the house”.
Honourable Na’im maintained that the house had set up a committee to investigate the matter and the report submitted, the lawmaker said.
The information committee chairman indicated that “The house was investigating six other local councils’ chairpersons over alleged financial misappropriation”.
He listed the affected council areas to include Gwiwa, Kafin-Hausa, Guri, Miga, Birnin Kudu, Birniwa and Babura.
However the affected council chairmen in a swift reaction denied the allegations describing it as political witch hunting just to control delegates in the forth coming party’s primary election.
Speaking to news men on condition of anonymity, one of the affected council chairmen said “It is not true, there is no any financial misappropriation. Everyone knows that we are not spending any Kobo until we make a work plan in respect of any financial expenditure which they usually take to the governor and state assembly for approval before the spending of such funds. How can one misappropriate?
He noted that the chairmen were being witch-hunted following a protest against imposition of party’s delegates ahead of the forthcoming party primary election in their respective councils.
The official said according to the party constitution and guidelines, a local council chairman is mandated to nominate five persons as delegates, a member of the house of representatives has three delegates slots while the state assembly member has two slots, unfortunately, the state party chairman submitted delegates list without giving the chairmen their slots.
The aide who asked not to be named for fear of being victimized said the chairman demanded to know why, but the party chairman remain adamant and arrogant insisting that it is an order from above that he cannot temper with the delegates list, that led to exchange of abusive words between them, the aide said.
When contacted the APC chairman Honourable Aminu Sani Gumel confirmed submitting complain against the Yankwashi local government council chairman to the lawmakers, however, he insisted he cannot comment on the matter which is before the assembly members.
The party chairman is believed to be playing the script of governor Muhammed Badaru, who they have accused of allegedly trying to have control of the party’s delegates and structure at council areas.