No Factional, Legal Crises In APM, Bagana Declares

A chieftain of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Muhammed Musa Bagana, has dismissed claims of a leadership crisis in the party.He insisted that the party remains united under the leadership of Yusuf Mamman Dantalle.

In a press statement he released yesterday, Bagana denied reports of factions within the party, stressing that there was no pending litigation in the Supreme Court or any court in Nigeria over the leadership of the APM.

He also hailed the reported defection of Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde, along with their supporters, describing their move to the APM as a major boost for democracy and national development.

According to him, the entry of the two influential governors has significantly altered Nigeria’s political equation and strengthened the APM as a formidable platform ahead of future elections.

“As expected, their defection to APM has upset the political equation in the country and positioned the party as a viable platform for electoral contests and delivery of the fruits of democracy,” Bagana stated.

He alleged that the party’s growing popularity had prompted attempts by “anti-democratic and reactionary forces” to sow confusion within the APM through fake reports of a factional crisis.

Bagana particularly disowned a statement allegedly issued by one Muhammed Bello on behalf of a purported faction opposing the governors’ defection, insisting he neither authorised the statement nor appointed any spokesman.

“I don’t know anything about the statement, I did not authorise it and don’t have any spokesman,” he said.

The former pioneer chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees acknowledged that he previously had political disagreements with Dantalle but noted that the issues had since been resolved amicably.

He urged Nigerians to disregard what he described as fake news aimed at destabilising the party ahead of the coming electoral season.