Crisis rocks AFAN, Jigawa chapter, as 2 factional chairmen head to court

From Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The JIgawa state chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) is deep in leadership crises that is tearing the association apart as two factional leaders are at daggers drawn threatening legal action against each other

National Update checks indicated that the two factional leaders are at each other’s jugular over an alleged breach of the association’s constitution

Speaking to our reporter in Dutse one of the factional chairmen, Alhaji Idris Ya’u Mai-angwa said he is the legitimate chairman recognized by the national body adding that the state government as well as security agencies were represented as observers during his election saying that any other election is illegitimate.

Alhaji Mai-anguwa explained that “the so-called election held on Monday at 3 Star Hotel Dutse was null and void, and it is not legitimate”.

“We are the liegitimate leaders, we were elected on May 19, 2019, with the Certificate of return issued to us by the national officials, before the Special Assistant to Governor Badaru, Alhaji Ibrahim Kaimawa and supervised by the state Commissioner of Police”.

Idris also claimed that the recent elected state factional chairman, Alhaji Auwal Garba Ibrahim was not even a member neither is he a legitimate member of AFAN.

According to him Alhaji Faruq Mudi who is in acting capacity as the national President of AFAN has no right to desolved legitimate elected leaders in Jigawa state.

“Because we have a constitution that is guiding us, which stated succintly that all elected leaders can only serve for five years. So our tenure has not expired and we are still the leaders in the state”, Idris explained.

While responding, the newly elected state chairman of AFAN, Comrade Auwalu Garba Ibrahim said the election held recently was authentic and was legitimate in accordance with the association’s constitutional guidelines.

Comrade Garba accused the other factional group of deliberate attempts to distrupt the peace of the association and create crises after allegedly lossing support from members as a result of alleged misconduct and fraududlent attitude while in power.

According to him there is a court judgement by an Abuja High Court which dissolved the Ya’u led leadership.

He stressed that the problem with Idris faction is that, they don’t respect the rule of law, because court has already dissolved them as leaders in the state.

He said the Idris faction’s tenure had expired a long time ago adding that the Association is not political in nature.

He therefore challenged Alhaji Mai-angwa to tender any evidence against him if he has to prove his claims that he is not a legitimate member of AFAN.