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| Gov Muhammad Badaru |
By Salisu K Ismail
At a time when political crises are looming large in the run-up to the national elections in 2023, a new crisis has erupted in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Jigawa State.
According to reports, the new crisis has been sparked by allegations that the Jigawa State APC leadership was facilitated by Governor Muhammadu Badaru to direct local government chairmen to change the names of some delegates who will represent the party in the upcoming primary elections of the party that would be held before the end of this month, May, 2023.
The NEWSKEEPER has discovered how the scandal sparked a scuffle between governor Muhammad Badaru, some chairmen of the local governments and party leaders after the Jigawa State House of Assembly received a letter from Jigawa State APC Chairman Alhaji Aminu Ahmed Gumel complaining to the House on alleged disobedience to the party and personal insult by the chairman of Yankwashi local government council.
Investigating deeply, the source revealed how the affected chairman of Yankwashi local government council had a disagreement and rejected the request to change the names of the delegates from his area, alleging that was why he was accused by the state party chairman of disobedience to the party.
It's believed that, the recent crisis between jigawa state governor Muhammad Badaru, APC stalwarts and the local council chairmen is centered on who will be in control of the party's delegates and structure at council areas as the date slated for conducting the primary election is coming nearer.
On Tuesday, the 10th, May, 2023 precisely, the Jigawa state House of Assembly during its plenary session considered the petition it received from the party and suspended the accused Yankwashi local government Chairman Mubarak Ahmad.
However, it was not categorically stated whether the suspended chairman was invited by the investigation committee of the house to defend himself over the alleged misconduct or not at the plenary.
The House announced that, "Mr. Ahmad was suspended 'indefinitely' for disrespecting the state's APC chairman, Aminu Gumel.
While shedding more light to the journalists, The chairman house committee on Information, Muhammad Na'eem explained that, the House sanctioned the council chairman after deliberation on a petition by the state's APC chairman that accused Yankwashi local government chairman of disrespecting the party, extortion and misbehaving.
However, Mr Na'eem who represents Kafin-Hausa constituency added that, "The House set up a committee to investigate the matter and submit its reports."
Meanwhile, Mr Na'eem said the House is investigating additional six local councils chairpersons over alleged financial misappropriation.
He listed the affected council areas as Gwiwa, Kafin-Hausa, Guri, Miga, Birnin Kudu and Birniwa.
Digging more on the crisis, an aide to the suspended chairman confided to our source that, his principal and some of his colleagues are being witch-hunted following a protest against imposition of party's delegates in their respective councils by the governor.
"At Yankwashi local government, the chairman is mandated to nominate five persons as delegates, a member of the house of representatives has three delegates slots while the state assembly member has two slots, unfortunately, the state party chairman submitted delegates list without given the chairman his slot," the source revealed.
Accordingly the source said that, "The Chairman (Yankwashi) demanded to know why, but the party chairman refused to utter a convincing reason remain arrogant and insisting that it is an order from the above and he cannot tamper with the delegates list, that led to exchange of abusive words between them."
Commenting on the matter, The embattled Jigawa APC chairman briefly responded to reporters, saying that, he has submitted his complaints to the lawmakers thus, the assembly members are responding to his query adding that, "Iam not the one to dictate what punishment would be taken on the accused Council chair by the Assembly."
Developments emerged on Wednesday, following a backlash and alleged plan by some of the council chairpersons to leave the APC, Mr Badaru, in a statement voided the suspension of Mr Ahmad.
The governor in a letter issued by Muhammad Yusha'u, a director local government inspection, with reference No JHA/LEG/25/V.IV/961, dated 10th May, 'cancelled the decision of the lawamakers'
"In view of the above strength, this letter cancelled and supersedes the earlier letter (letter of suspension by the state's assembly), the governor's letter stated.
"I have been directed to convey the resolution and directive of his Execellency the Executive Governor, instructing the chairman Yankwashi Local Government to return back to his office with immediate effect," the statement said.
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