Sunday 20 March 2016

Kano APC crisis: Ganduje’s loyalists sack Kwankwaso allies


Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje
The crisis rocking the Kano State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress appears to be getting worse as supporters of Governor Umar Ganduje are insisting on cutting ex-Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to size.
Findings by SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday showed that although the National Working Committee of the party had opened a channel of communication with Ganduje and his predecessor, hardliners in the governor’s camp insisted on punishing the former governor.
Barely 48 hours after removing the Chief Whip of the state House of Assembly, a known Kwankwaso ally, the party leadership announced the suspension of the state party chairman, Umar Doguwa.
Ganduje’s Political Adviser, Abdullahi Abbass, had been named as the party’s new acting chairman. Abbass  served as commissioner in the Kwankwaso  administration.
The decision was endorsed by 43 out of the 44 local government chairmen in the state as well as members of the state House of Assembly at a well attended meeting in Kano on Saturday.
Doguwa was among other things, accused of anti-party activities. His main offence was that he dissociated himself from a statement where the majority of the state leadership of the party pledged allegiance to Ganduje.
As things stand, 34 of the 39 surviving members of the state House of Assembly (there were 40 members, one died) have pledged allegiance to Ganduje.
This is coming at a time the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee, is expressing confidence that the feud will soon be over.
In a telephone interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, Odigie-Oyegun said, “We are engaging with the governor and his predecessor. The very good and encouraging thing is that the two men are enthusiastic and cooperative and I assure you that all the issues will soon be resolved.”
Doguwa had earlier recanted a statement he made on Thursday, threatening former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso with suspension for organising a “violent rally.”
Doguwa had while addressing journalists in Kano on Thursday, said Kwankwaso faced suspension from the party for sponsoring a violent rally while paying a condolence visit to the governor over the death of his mother.
He said Kwankwaso exhibited “acts of indiscipline which should not be allowed to go unpunished.”
Doguwa also said the party’s leadership and elders had approved the inauguration of a disciplinary committee to penalise Kwankwaso.
According to him, the condolence visit was deliberately turned to a violent rally to cause mayhem in the state and to abuse the governor and President Muhammadu Buhari.
PUNCH.

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