Will
Audu contain recurring tensions in APC?
Prominent among the
candidates are the incumbent Governor, Capt. Idris Wada of Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP and Prince Abubakar Audu of the All Peoples Progressive Congress,
APC.
Also in the race is the immediate past Deputy Governor of the
State, Dr. Philip Salawu of the Labour Party, LP; Isah Kamadeen, AA;
Dickson Fred, Accord; Ukwenya Musa, ACD; Michael Abdullahi, AD; Usman Zainab,
ADC; Odufu Friday, APA; Akwu Goodman, APGA; Yinka Oloruntoba, CPP; Philip
Koleola, DPC; Abubarka Ibrahim, DPP; Ibrahim Adejoh, ID and Raji Ogrima -KOWA.
The rest are Mohammed Dangana, NCP; Mallam Abdul Hussien, NNPP;
Emmanuel Daikwo, PDC; Emmanuel Ozigi, PPA; Dr. Oju Hussein, PPN; Enema Paul,
SPD and Saadu Mukailu of UDP.
The INEC also disclosed that arrangement for a credible, free and fair polls are already in top gear.
INEC had recently released the soft copy of the Voters Register
to all registered parties in the state.
Indications have emerged that
the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State is going through challenging times,
as continued friction between the forces within the party continues to
undermine its chances of clinching the November governorship election in the
state.
Genesis of the crisis
After the March presidential and national assembly polls, the
All Progressives Congress became a house divided against itself. Things began
to fall apart in a party in which the people of Kogi had expected real change.
The emergence of Prince Abubakar Audu brewed animosity among
other co-aspirants who felt the former governor should have confined himself to
the role of a leader within the party.
Many young elements within the party felt having failed on four
occasions to become the governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu should have
left the stage for more promising aspirants. One of such aspirants, according
to analysts, is Alh. Yahaya Bello, a young entrepreneur with massive
followership among the youths of the state. Also, it was believed that AVM.
Saliu Atawodi (rtd) would have given the party a good stead to wrestle power
from the ruling People’s Democratic Party.
With the inability of the Kogi West and Kogi Central to coalesce
into consensus, Prince Abubakar Audu, whom his supporters see as the father of
opposition politics in Kogi emerged as the candidate of the party.
Battle Shifts to Abuja
After the APC primaries, attrition and contention set in. Some
chieftains of the party from Kogi Central were blamed for the collapse of the
West/Central marriage.
Prince Abubakar Audu was petitioned for violating a basic
provision of the guidelines for the primaries by refusing to resign his
membership of the Board of Trustees of the party. Concerns were also raised
about his graft case at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
On receipt of the petition, the party set up a three-man panel
to look into the allegations raised and come up with recommendations. Chief Sam
Sam Jaja was the Chairman of the committee.
After days of sitting, the committee came up with its report.
One of the recommendations in the report was the need to disqualify Prince
Abubakar Audu and replace him with Alh. Yahaya Bello, who was runner up in the
primary election.
The National Working Committee passed the report to the National
Legal Adviser of the party, Muiz Banire for legal guide. The Lagos-born lawyer
and a close confidant of Audu’s running mate, Hon. Abiodun Faleke, advised
against the withdrawal of the ticket from Audu, warning of dire legal
implications. Audu was able to survive the first onslaught.
Frosty relations with Abuja
Sources close to the seat of power in Abuja told Vanguard that
Presidency is uncomfortable with the emergence of Prince Abubakar Audu.
The source who craved anonymity said Prince Abubakar Audu is an
antithesis of the anti-corruption crusade of the party.
He said: “As I speak, we are still trying to convince the
President to attend the flag presentation ceremony of Prince Abubakar Audu. The
body language of the President doesn’t suggest he is disposed to working with
Audu.
“A number of reasons are responsible for this cold relationship.
In 2003, Prince Abubakar Audu who was a sitting governor then in ANPP where
Buhari was the presidential candidate, worked against Buhari. On the day Buhari
was to campaign at Lokoja, Audu left the state, ostensibly to avoid Buhari. In
2011, Audu worked for Mallam Shekarau and that led to Buhari contesting on the
platform of Congress for Progressive Change. In 2015, Audu supported Rabiu Musa
Kwakwanso prior to the primaries. All these didn’t go down well with the
President.
“Secondly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission did
write a letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, protesting
the nomination of Prince Abubakar Audu as a ploy to shield him from
prosecution. The President feels his anti-corruption credence is under threat
if he supports Audu’s candidature”.
Deputy governorship debacle
Also, the choice of Audu’s running mate has also generated some
ripples within the party. Many party chieftains are of the opinion that Faleke
is reaping where he didn’t sow.
Our reporters gathered that many party leaders are discreetly
working for the opposition to stop what they called “the overbearing influence
of some external forces” on the party and Kogi State.
However, Prince Abubakar Audu, a veteran of the game is believed
to be pulling the string to ensure APC takes over Lugard House come January
2016.
Will Audu be fifth time lucky? November 21 will tell.
Brought to you by #HumbleInformat @Ephraimabuh
Instagram: @Ephraimabuh
Source: Vanguard
Post a Comment