The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended the party’s women leader in Kaduna state, Hajiya Maryam Suleiman (Mai Rusau), for alleged gross misconduct.

The political party announced Suleiman’s suspension on Sunday in a communiqué signed by the APC chairman and secretary of Badarawa/Malali ward, Ali Maishago and Zakkah Bassahuwa, respectively.

“The Badarawa/Malali Ward APC Executive Committee, after due deliberations and careful examinations on the viral video clip released on 30th March, 2024 via social networks; Facebook, Whatsapp, and TikTok, which is against the constitution of our dear party APC as stated in article 21.2 (v),” the statement read.

“In view of the above, below are the gross misconducts where the subsequent suspension relied upon: Deformation (sic) of character of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Uba Sani, and unauthorized publicity of the party dispute that discredited the personality of the Executive Governor of Kaduna State.

“Furthermore, from today Sunday 31st of March, 2024, the leadership of APC Badarawa/Malali Ward unanimously resolved to suspend Hajiya Maryam Suleiman (Mai Rusau) from the Party pending the further investigation on the matter from the constituted authority.”

Suleiman was said to have defended the immediate-past governor of Kaduna, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, over the recent controversy over the massive debt owed by the state.

Incumbent Governor Sani on Friday lamented the high debt profile he inherited from his predecessor, El-Rufai, revealing that it amounted to $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities.

The APC Women Leader, however, jumped to the defence of El-Rufai over the Kaduna debt burden, saying that Governor Sani is treacherous.

“If you say there is no money in Kaduna State, why don’t you resign? Notwithstanding the huge debt burden, he ran from pillar to post trying to get the party’s governorship ticket from Mallam [El-Rufai],” she said.

“It is a clear case of betrayal. Mallam did everything for Uba to become a senator and later governor.

“As a senator, Uba Sani is the arrowhead of securing loans by El-Rufai administration. He was deeply involved in that.”