A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State has declared Sunday’s six-month suspension of Governor Nasir el-Rufai by another faction of the party as illegal.
The acting Secretary of the faction of the party loyal to the governor, Yahaya Baba-Pate said at a Monday press conference that Sunday’s purported suspension was null and void because the other faction had no power to take such action.
The suspension was announced after a stakeholder’s meeting between two factions of the party attended by political heavyweights in the APC fold in the state.
Some of those who attended the meeting were Sen. Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna Central), Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi (APC – Kaduna North), and Chief of Staff to Senate President, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed.
Others included an APC gubernatorial aspirant in 2015, Isa Ashiru and Founder, Liberty FM radio, Kaduna, Dr. Tijjani Ramalan.
Acting chairman of the faction, Danladi Wada had announced the suspension in the party’s factional office in Kaduna on Sunday.
However, Baba-Pate said only a legitimate organ of the party could discipline a member, saying his faction was recognised by the national leadership of the party led by National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
He said the governor’s suspension would not hold.