National Convention: Fresh Storm In APC As El-Rufai Lands In Trouble

A fresh unease is threatening to rupture the peace of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) just as Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has landed in trouble over the appointment of a new Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamali.

A group, Concerned Members of APC has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the party to either organise it’s National Convention billed for this coming December or brace for some unpleasant consequences.

For the fuming APC members, the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Committee has so far, failed. Spokesperson of the group, Abdullahi Dauda, said in Abuja that they are not trying to discredit the conscientious efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari.

‘’We are acting on information that the caretaker committee was already scheming to extend their tenure for another one year’’, says Dauda.

The gathering storm in the APC is coming as nine other contestants to the Zazzau throne have dragged El-Rufai to the state’s High Court over the appointment of Bamali as the new Emir of Zazzau.

Bashir Aminu, one of the contestants who is also known as the Iyan Zazzau, sent a petition to the court.

Governor El-Rufai however, appointed Bamali following the death of the 18th emir, Alhaji Shehu Idris, last month after a 45-year reign.

Since the development, an uneasy calm has been reigning over the emirate. The Iyan Zazzau, who was among those selected by the Zazzau kingmakers, scored the highest marks to succeed the late Idris.

Apparently not eager to let go so easily, he on Monday, instituted a suit challenging the process that led to the emergence of the new emir.

Others shortlisted by the kingmakers for recommendations to the governor were the Yariman Zazzau, Munir Jafaru; and the Turakin Karaman Zazzau, Aminu Idris.

Among the criteria considered by the kingmakers were that the new emir must be learned both in western and Islamic education. But, Governor El-Rufai allegedly set aside the recommendations of the kingmakers and appointed Bamali as his choice new emir.

The Iyan Zazzau is praying the court to declare him the emir having scored the highest votes cast by the kingmakers.

Besides El-Rufai, others joined in the suit filed by Yunus Usman, SAN, are the state’s Attorney-General, Kaduna State Council of Chiefs, Zazzau Emirate Council, Wazirin Zazzau, Ibrahim Aminu; Fagachin Zazzau, Umaru Muhammad; Mohammad Abbas, Makama Karamin Zazzau; Dalhatu Kasimu Imam, Limamin Juma’an Zazzau; Mohammad Sani Aliyu, Limamin Konan Zazzau; Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamali as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th,9th, and 10th defendants respectively.

The plaintiff is also seeking “a declaration that the plaintiff is still the Emir of Zazzau and is entitled to all rights and privileges pertaining thereto.

“An order setting aside the purported appointment of the 10th defendant, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, as the Emir of Zazzau;

“An injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants from acting in the installation of the 10th defendant to the throne of the Emir of Zazzau or presenting to the 10th defendant with the staff of office until the final determination of this suit.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants either by themselves, agents, privies, servants or through any person or persons howsoever from treating, presenting or dealing with or installing the 10th defendant as the Emir of Zazzau.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 10th defendant from parading, presenting or styling himself as the Emir of Zazzau or from putting on or wearing any paraphernalia or insignia of the Emir of Zazzau.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants from dealing with, treating, presenting, or dealing with installing the 10th defendant as the Emir of Zazzau or handing over to him the staff of the office of the Emir of Zazzau.”

In the meantime, the APC group says they have watched with ‘’amazement and disillusionment for several months the inability of the APC Caretaker Committee to provide direction for the party and set up a timetable for December elective convention.

“We are not out to discredit the conscientious efforts of President Buhari and his team that have taken commendable steps to fight for the progress of the party by setting up the present Caretaker Committee to save the party from an internal crisis, but to bring to his notice that there are certain areas that the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Committee has outrightly failed, especially as it concerns the non-compliance to the scheduled December National Convention.

“We are less than two months away from the December deadline and no meaningful plan is in place for the much-awaited convention.

‘’The committee was inaugurated to carry out two critical challenges faced by our great party. One was for it to reconcile aggrieved members and second, was to conduct a National Convention by December 2020. But information reaching us reveals that they are already scheming to extend their tenure for another one year.”

According to them, ‘’we are giving the caretaker committee 14-day ultimatum to roll out plan of action/timetable for the party’s December elective convention or face mass demonstration of party members nationwide. That a time table leading to a hitch-free convention be released within the next 14 days.

“The Caretaker Committee should halt the proposed registration of fresh members and allow the next  National Working Committee members to carry out such assignments. That Mr. President should call the Buni led Caretaker Committee to order before it buries the party.’’

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