Mass exodus looms in Niger APC as Senator quits party

 

 

The senator representing Niger south senatorial district in the National Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Mustapha, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) as indications are high that more aggrieved members of the party might quit the party in a couple of days from now.

The looming exodus from the party is not unconnected with hues and cries that characterised the outcome of the party primaries in the state.

Only last week, some House of Assembly aspirants, who lost out in the primary had threatened to dump the party if their grievances were not addressed.

Sen. Abdullahi Mustapha quit the APC over what he described as ‘injustice’ meted to him by the party during and after the senatorial primary election held recently.

Mustapha was the only one among the three serving senators who lost the primaries elections in the state that was denied automatic ticket by the party.

Mustapha lost in the purported primary election to new comer, Alhaji Mohammed Bima, in a contest that took place in the senatorial zone two weeks ago.

The senator protested the outcome of the election, describing it “as a kangaroo election” and asked the National Working Committee to declare him winner or direct the conduct of a fresh election.

A source close to Sen. Mustapha said he was further irked by the decision of the National Working Committee to give automatic tickets to the two remaining serving senators who equally lost their primary election, leaving only him out of the arrangement.

“I don’t know the parameter they used before taking that decision, they were all to be given automatic tickets but he was the only one not considered” the source said.

Spokesman for the senator, Alhaji Awal Abubakar Gata, when contacted on phone, on Tuesday evening, confirmed that his principal had ‘resigned from the APC because of injustice’.

“We have resigned from the APC because of injustice. We care consulting on the next line of action to take”.

Awal Abubakar said his principal was cleared along “with David Umaru and Sabi only for him to be substituted “.

Last Sunday a group working for the senator led by Alhaji Mohammed Ebamma Gana had also protested against the substitution of Mustapha Ibrahim and called on the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole to rescind the decision to substitute senator Mustapha.

(The Sun News)