APC PRIMARIES: Gov Yari leads protests against Oshiomhole

The cancellation of the governorship primaries held in Zamfara State on Wednesday by the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has got Governor Abdulaziz Yari fuming.

He has therefore called out his supporters to troop en-mass for a peaceful protest against the decision of the party’s national leadership.

The NWC of the APC had earlier on Friday dissolved the executive committee of the Zamfara State chapter of the party.

Yekini Nabena, acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, had in a statement issued in Abuja also said that the panel inaugurated by the NWC would conduct the legislative and gubernatorial primaries which were rescheduled over controversies.

But apparently aggrieved with the development, Yari said in response at a press conference later on Friday, “I am calling on all our members to come out and storm the state Police Headquarters tomorrow (Saturday) by 10am for peaceful protest. We will continue with this decision until the national leadership of our party does what is right on this matter.

“Our issue is with the National Secretariat of APC where Adams Oshiomhole continues be a dictator to party members; he acts as a mini god. You know, there is ongoing issue regarding the APC governorship primaries in the state, where the national headquarters sent a committee to conduct the election.

“It was very unfortunate that the committee canceled the election on Wednesday.  We heard that the National Working Committee had dissolved the APC executive in the state and also send the same committee to Zamfara to repeat the exercise.

“I want to call on the national headquarters of the party that we will not accept the decision and we are not satisfied with the committee, we don’t have confidence in that committee. I am warning members of that committee that they should never come to Zamfara, they should never put their legs in this state, and anything that happens to them, Adams Oshiomhole should be held responsible.

“We will continue with this decision until the national leadership of the party is ready to do justice.”

On the rumours he has dumped the APC he said, “I remain in APC and I will never leave the party. No amount of pressure will make me to leave the APC. I was among the founders of this party, I was in Lagos, and Nasarawa states for meetings before we gave birth to the APC, therefore no amount of pressure will make me to leave the party.

READ ALSO: NWC issues stern warning to Yari, dissolves Zamfara APC executive

“You know, changing political party is not my tradition, therefore I will not change the party and the rumour going round is not true, I am not under any pressure to leave the party.”

Yari is said to have anointed his commissioner of finance as the sole candidate of APC in the state, a decision other eight aspirants including his deputy, Ibrahim Wakala, are challenging.

The aspirants known as G8, are a former governor of the state Aliyu Shinkafi, a serving Senator, Kabiru Marafa, and Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali. Others include, Aminu Sani Jaji, Alhaji Dauda Lawal, Alhaji Abu Mahaji and Sagir Hamidu.

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