Zamfara APC Disowns Fake Party Membership Card Linked To Bandit Leader Bello Turji

The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disowned a purported party membership card bearing the name and photograph of notorious and wanted bandit leader, Bello Turji, describing it as a forgery aimed at damaging the party’s image.

The party’s spokesperson in the state, Yusuf Idris, made this known in a statement issued to journalists on Monday, saying the fake party membership card was the handiwork of mischief-makers seeking to undermine the party’s ongoing e-registration exercise.

Idris said the APC became aware of the forged membership card allegedly portraying Turji as a registered party member, stressing that the document was clearly fabricated and easily identifiable as fake.

According to him, “This is the work of mischievous elements who are unhappy with the smooth, successful and coordinated manner in which the ongoing e-registration of APC members is being carried out in Zamfara State.

“Even to the ordinary observer, the forgery is obvious from the card itself. For instance, the bold ‘26’ on the date, allegedly representing January 26, is suspicious. Also, the photograph used is a widely circulated image of the hardened criminal, well known to security agencies and Nigerians.”

The APC spokesman further explained that no individual can be registered as a party member without a valid National Identification Number (NIN), which Turji does not possess.

“No person can be duly registered without a NIN. This alone exposes the ignorance of those behind the forgery and renders their efforts futile,” Idris said.

He added that the process of enrolment by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) requires the completion of personal data forms before biometric capture, noting that it would be impossible to capture someone in military attire and carrying a firearm.

“How could NIMC capture an individual wearing military uniform and carrying a gun? Such features are completely unacceptable,” he stated.

Idris also disclosed that records from the ongoing registration exercise in Kware Ward showed no identification number beginning with the code ‘26’, which he said belongs to Niger State and not Zamfara State.

“From our records of today’s registration in Kware Ward, there is no ID number starting with ‘26’. Zamfara State APC membership numbers begin with the code ‘36’, not ‘26’,” he said.

The party spokesman further claimed that preliminary findings have linked the fake card to Babangida Aliyu Shinkafi (Waziri), an associate of Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, who was recently suspended from participating in the e-registration exercise over alleged irregularities.

“The forged card was traced to him because it first surfaced on his Facebook page,” Idris added.

He stressed that the APC e-registration coordination team in Zamfara State and the party’s state chapter had completely dissociated themselves from the fake card, identified with registration number ID APC 261113000102.

Idris urged members of the public to disregard the forged document, assuring that the matter had been reported to security agencies.

“We are confident that those behind this forgery will be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

NAN