Kaduna APC crisis deepens as faction suspends Gov El-Rufai for 6 months

The crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State has continued to worsen by the day with factions of the party engaging in suspension and counter suspension of members of opposing groups.

A faction known as Restoration, which is led by Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, on Sunday announced the suspension of the state governor, Nasir El Rufai for six months on the argument that he failed to respond to a query issued to him last week Thursday.

The governor’s suspension by the Restoration faction was in apparent retaliation of an earlier suspension of Senator Hunkuyi for six months and dismissal of 28 others by El-Rufai’s group of the party two days ago.

Announcing the suspension of the governor at a press conference in Kaduna on Sunday, the chairman of the Restoration group, Alhaji Danladi Wada accused El Rufai of failure to answer to the query issued him.

He said, “This briefing is sequel to 48 hours ultimatum/query and warning issued to the state governor to explain and defend himself against the allegations leveled against him which he failed to respond.

“The State Working Committee on Saturday 17, February 2018, convened and resolved to consider and to rectify the findings and recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee and the Fact Finding Committee put before it in accordance with the provision of article 21(B) section 3 of the APC constitution and accordingly, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai stands suspended for 6 months from the APC, commencing from 17, February, 2018.”

According to the group, the Presidential Reconciliation Committee led by a leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, may be an exercise in futility should Governor El-Rufai insist on holding on to his mistakes.

Speaking at the press conference, a member of the faction, Mataimaki Tom-Maiyashi accused the governor of displaying through his body language unwillingness to submit to genuine reconciliation, adding that should the reconciliation efforts of the party fail, other parties may benefit from the crisis.

”The Stakeholders welcome the initiatives to settle major issues which are dividing and weakening the party.

“The real reconciliation will only be achieved if justice and the willingness to take difficult decisions are upheld.

READ ALSO: APC in a civil war with itself, it’ll be tragedy if Tinubu fails —Sen. Sani
“Stakeholders observed that in Kaduna State at least, the postures and actions if the governor, Nasir el-Rufai, and his associates do not suggest the willingness to submit to genuine reconciliation.

“All suspensions by persons other than those led by the acting chairman of the party, Alhaji Danladi Wada are exercises in futility, null and void.

“The acting chairman should exercise his full powers and conclude disciplinary actions against all members, no matter their positions in the party.”

There are currently three factions of the party in Kaduna State; the governors group, Senator Hunkuyi’s group, and Senator Shehu Sani’s group.

Senator Sani, who has not been in good terms with the governor for a very long time now had also described APC as a party in civil war with itself and warned that the party will be doomed should the Tinubu-led team fail its mandate.

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