A legion of angry protesters from different states of the federation yesterday locked down the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja holding its national chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole hostage and demanding his resignation.
NewsGazette gathered that the protesters laid siege to the party’s office from 4pm and forced Oshiomhole to remain in his office until 7:30pm when some heavily armed policemen arrived to rescue him and members of the national working committee.
The protesters carried anti-Oshiomhole placards some of which read: ‘No To Oshiomhole’s Dictatorial Rule’, ‘On Justice We Stand’ ‘We Want Senator Musa’, ‘No to Imposition of Candidates’.
A noticeable face among the protesters was the former inspector general of police, Mr. Suleiman Abba who berated the Oshiomhole-led national working committee of the party for excluding him from senatorial contest.
Abba who bought the expression of interest and nomination forms for N7 million to vie for the Jigawa South senatorial district ticket was initially cleared but later disqualified from participating in the primaries.
The former police chief who addressed journalists rained down curses and called on God not to allow anyone use “demon style” to destroy the APC.
“Let me say that this is not a time for too much talk. This is a time for prayers and I want you all to please join me in this prayer.
“The prayer is this: Oh Almighty God, any person copying you and their powers should not be in this headquarters of the APC.
“Almighty God, if there is already one; you know what to do, so that you don’t allow him to continue copying you.
“Almighty God, any person claiming to be an officer of the APC, if he will not work with the vision and the mission of the APC, Almighty God, don’t allow him to use the demon style of destroying the APC.
“You know also too well that I have been a card-carrying member of the APC for over 18 months and you are also aware that a list was released where I was duly cleared and another list was also released delisting my name.”
Supporters of the liaison officer to President Muhammadu Buhari on national assembly matters, Mr. Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, were also at the party’s secretariat protesting against the victory of Senator Kabiru Gaya in the party’s primary election for the Kano South senatorial district.
Gaya won the primary election conducted in the 16 local government areas and 171 wards which make up Kano South Senatorial District.
The protesters led by Muhammad Awwal Kofa, alleged that the exercise which produced Gaya was rigged.
“The primary election in Kano State was not conducted by the electoral panel sent by the National Headquarters and the result was not announced by the appropriate official legally.
“The election was rigged and a false result was announced. This election process was entirely in contravention of our party’s guidelines and constitution,” he said Kofa.
Another group of protesters under the aegis of Awareness for Good Leadership, Peace and Development from Enugu State also staged a protested alleging that hat malpractices marred the conduct of the exercise in Awgu South constituency of the state.
Spokesman for the group, Dr. Emeka Isaac, said: “As members of the APC who actively participated in the primary election in the above-named constituency in Enugu State, we didn’t witness any election in the above-named constituency.”
From Niger State, a horde of supporters of Senator Muhammed Sani Musa protested against the party’s failure to clear Musa who aspired for the Niger East senatorial district slot in the primaries conducted in the state.
Earlier, Oshiomhole had constituted national appeal committee to look into the agitations arising from the conduct of the party’s presidential, governorship and legislative primary elections in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Chaired by the former governor of Edo State governor, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, the other members are Mike Ugwa (secretary), Alhaji Musa Gwadabe, Bashorun Reuben Famuyibo and Alhaji Abdulrahman Adamu.”
“The petitions are quite a lot. Look through them, identify the petitioners, and ensure you put a face to the petitions.
“There must be a fair hearing. The individuals mentioned in the petitions, call them. You must do what is just, bearing in mind the constitution of our party and the Electoral Act,” Oshiomhole charged the committee.
