APC stakeholders fault Buni’s expulsion of factional caretaker committee leader

Tambuwal condemns divisive politics 

All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders have faulted the decision to expel the head of the party’s factional national caretaker committee, Prince Mustapha Audu.

In a statement, APC Rebirth Group, led by Mr. Aliyu Audu, argued that the decision by Governor Mai Mala Buni-led caretaker committee runs contrary to the party’s constitution.

It contended that the action was tantamount to punishing “alleged illegality with another illegality”, saying the fact that Prince Audu expressed a contrary opinion or embarked on activities seen to be against the current leadership does not warrant denial of his rights as a full-fledged APC member.

The group accused the Buni-led committee of instigating the expulsion of Audu through his ward in Ogbonicha, Kogi State.

It is also frowned at the decision by the Department of State Services (DSS) to grill Audu over activities of his faction.

The group said: “For the leadership of the APC to take this position against a group it has interfaced with at various times, so much as disowning its leader, Prince Mustapha Audu, who was recently a governorship aspirant on the platform of the party, one only imagines how seriously those superintending affairs of the party take their responsibility.

“At what point did Prince Audu cease to be a member of the APC? Could this be before he paid N22.5 million to the coffers of the party to contest the governorship primaries of the APC in Kogi State, or after he decided to speak against the continuous stay in office of the Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) or their refusal to conduct the national convention of the party, especially within the timeframe given to her?”

It added: “We feel that even if the party would impose any disciplinary action against Prince Audu, the constitution must be followed to the letter, by adhering to laid down rules and procedures prescribed for the discipline of party members, including being given the fair chance to defend himself, and not the arbitrary and unconstitutional action of the CECPC and ward chairman acting on their behalf.”

MEANWHILE, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has called on public office holders to avoid politics of divisiveness and destruction.

Tambuwal, in a statement by his media assistant, Mohammed Bello, in Abuja, stressed the need for national cohesion, integration and good governance, against divisive partisan politics.

Harping on the need to strengthen unity across the country, he pointed out that in Sokoto State, the government doesn’t discriminate against other Nigerians.

“Whoever lives in Sokoto enjoys the benefit of free education, healthcare and every other service that the state avails its citizens,” Tambuwal added.