The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the speculations of the alleged defection plan by the factional leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Musa Kwankwaso, to the ruling party as a welcome development.
It, however, said that Kwankwaso would not be given any special treatment if he decamped to the APC.
At a news conference yesterday in Kano, the state chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Abbas, warned that as the party opens its registration to all, there would be no special treatment to anybody and would not stop the anti-graft agencies in the country from doing their job against corrupt individuals wanting to seek protection in the party.
Abbas said, “The attention of the party has been drawn to speculations of the impending decamping of the leader of the expelled faction of the NNPP, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso into the APC.
“This is a welcome development, especially given the fact that the APC remains his last political refuge as he has successfully destroyed his relations with all other political groupings in the country.
“Without prejudice to our desire as a party to welcome new entrants and in respect of the constitutional rights of citizens to belong to political parties of their choice, we wish to state our position as a state chapter of our great party in Kano State.
“We have already directed our ward chapters to open registers for decampees irrespective of their political and social stature and this is in line with our party’s constitution. We advise all those desirous of joining our esteemed party to go to their respective wards and register,” he said.
The APC chairman, however, assured its elected officials from the wards to the local governments, senatorial and state levels that they would continue to function as provided by the party rules.
“For the purpose of seeking any future party or elective position, any old or new entrants, shall be free to exercise his/her constitutional rights of voting or being voted for without any special preference.
“We are fully aware that some people are desperate to join the APC because they have squandered their political goodwill and have become political lepers in the national scheme of things and are looking to the APC for political relevance.
“We are also aware that some politicians are trying to run away from accounting for their corrupt misdeeds both in government and party administration, and seeking refuge in the APC to escape from the fangs of anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and the ICPC.
“However, joining APC as a political party is not a panacea for escaping from their past sins.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let me emphasise that the APC as a political party does not and will not encourage or promote the existence of cult-like associations in the name of political activities or groupings,” he declared.
Responding to the press briefing, the state chairman of NNPP (Kwankwaso’s platform), Hashimu Dungurawa described the moves by Kwankwaso as beyond the decisions of the state chapter, adding that the former Kano State governor discussed with “their masters” at the national level.
“Not even the national chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje can influence anything on this matter. It is beyond him. He can only receive instructions on what to do and what not to do from above, where Kwankwaso is communicating with,” Dungurawa told LEADERSHIP Weekend.
He further described Kwankwaso as the political mentor of all the APC leadership at both the national and state levels saying “they were all his boys. He is therefore communicating with their principals.”
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