***Senate deputy whip defies police order, holds rally in another Venue
The crises rocking the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Niger state, came to the fore on Tuesday when the party’s State Working Committee disassociated itself from a planned rally to galvanize support for its Presidential and governorship candidates including their running mates slated for New Bussa, Borgu local government area of the state.
The police, road safety, Civil Defence personals were deployed to the New Bussa Stadium venue of the planned rally as early 8am in the morning.
The army were also sited patrolling around the venue.
Supporters who came for the rally were turned back by the police operatives citing order from above
A Support Group, 774 under the leadership of the senator representing Niger North Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi had planned a “Grand Luckdown Rally” for the Presidential candidate and his running mate, as well as the governorship candidate and his running mate billed to hold at the New Bussa township stadium on Tuesday to mobilize supporters for the candidates.
The deputy Whip of the senate, who is also the National Coordinator, Project 774 for Tinubu/Shettima, 2023, had through his Special Assistant (operations), Hon. Mohammed Garba Danladi in a letter dated 27/01/2023 and addressed to the state Party Chairman, Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro notified the party of the planned rally.
Senator Sabi in the letter also stated that the State Working Committee of the party was invited to the Grand Lockdown Rally for the Candidates and their running mates on the need to galvanize support and positively enhance the party’s chances at the polls.
Part of the letter reads; I am directed to invite you and your exco to the Grand Lockdown Rally in honor of Jagaban Borgu and Kashim Shettima, our party Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates, Hon. Mohammed Bago, with Comrade Yakubu Garba as Gubernatorial and Deputy Governorship Candidates for Niger state in the 2023 General Elections.
“In view of the need to galvanize support and positively enhance the chances of our party in the forthcoming elections, we wish to solicit and count on your unflinching support towards the success of the rally..”
But the State Working Committee of the party in a statement in Minna on Monday by the publicity secretary, Mallam Musa Dan Sarkindaji, a copy which was made available to Daily Sun, said the Chairman of the party, Hon Haliru Zakari Jikantoro has disassociated itself from the rally.
The four paragraph statement, titled “Niger APC Disassociated Herself From Lockdown Rally in Borgu” and signed by the publicity secretary also directed all party faithful not to honour and attend such rally, claiming that the planned rally contravene unified campaign structure as designed by the party.
According to the statement, “The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State under the leadership of Hon Haliru Zakari Jikantoro has disassociated itself from lockdown rally organized in New Bussa, Borgu Local Government Area of the State.
“The party wishes to draw attention of all party faithfuls not to honour and attend such rally as it contravene with unified campaign structure as designed by the party”.
The Party instead urged its Executives, stakeholders and party loyalists to attend the grand zonal rally which is scheduled for Wednesday 2nd of February, 2023 Bida, headquarters of Bida local government.
However no reason was given for the action of the party, but it was gathered that the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, who is the leader of the party in the state had instructed the party to stay away from the planned rally, a confirmation of the Cold War between him and the senator, the organizer of the rally.
However, DSP Wasiu Abiodun PPRO Niger state police command said in a reaction that the Police had to take over the venue of the planned rally, as a proactive measure due to intelligence received of likely breach of security at the venue.
“Hence, we have to do the needful to avert any possible attack or hijack by suspected miscreants to cause mayhem and breach of peace in the community.
“The Command will not fold its alms and allow act of political violence, avoidable loss of life, destruction of properties and lawlessness.
The Senate deputy whip however, held the rally in another Venue after which they embarked on road show through the city of New Bussa
While addressing newsmen he said, “I have no explanation as to why force and power were unleashed on my efforts for the party but I took it in good faith and leave everything to God.
“What we have done today has laid to rest any doubt as to whether I’m leaving the party or not. By the Grace of God, we will vote all APC candidates in the coming elections.
Reacting to the police claim on likely security breach at the venue, the senator said: “If there was going to be any security breach, I think the method we adopted today would have aided the breach if there would be any. What we saw today is love for me. I have addressed them to support all APC candidates, including in Niger North senatorial district and they all agreed.”