TheCable

The Kaduna state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is divided over the attempt to prevent Suleiman Hunkuyi, senator representing Kaduna-north, from participating in the forthcoming congresses.

The decision was said to have been made on Tuesday by a faction of the party loyal to Nasir El-Rufai, the state governor.

Hunkuyi belongs to a faction known as Kaduna Restoration, one opposed to el-Rufai.

Both factions have been at loggerheads for a while. In February, the state government destroyed a building used by Hunkuyi’s faction as its head office.

It also suspended the senator and 28 members of his group from the party.

Subsequently, Hunkuyi filed a defamation suit against the administration of el-Rufai, demanding N10 billion for the demolition of his house located at 11B Sambo road in the state.

However, Yahaya Pate, acting state secretary of the party, at a news conference in Kaduna, said Hunkuyi cannot participate in the activities of the party because of his suspension.

He alleged that the senator was assembling mercenaries and thugs to undermine the party during the congresses.

“Hunkuyi cannot directly or indirectly participate in the activities of the APC or convene any gathering in the name of the party, contrary to what he is presently doing,” Pate said.

“Intelligence at our disposal suggests that he and his expelled associates are planning to destabilise the congresses across the state.

“Thus, they have nothing at stake, and are merely engaging in impersonation to try to undermine a party that has rightly removed them from its ranks.

“The Kaduna State APC has alerted security agencies to kindly take measures that will guarantee security and ensure.

“The protection of life and property of our members and officials from our national leadership, that will conduct the said congresses across the state.

“For the umpteenth time, we are warning, suspended Senator Hunkuyi and his co-travelers to desist from interfering in our activities.

“We will hold Hunkuyi and his associates responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the course of our congresses”

Yahaya Shinko, a top member of the Hunkuyi faction, has, however, dismissed the allegations by Pate.

Shinko maintained that Hunkuyi remains a faithful member of the APC.

“The people claiming they have suspended others from the party are not ready to tell to anybody about the guidelines of the forthcoming congresses,” Shinko said.

“What they are trying to do is to go to the room and write the names of people they want to give the positions to in the name of consensus or affirmation.

“They were disappointed by our moves, we have told the people that it is their party and they have right to contest at the congresses.

“The senator has promised to purchase the form for all the people in our group that wish to contest for positions. So they are not happy about this development.”