The Kano state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has described the speculations of the decamping of the factional leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, to the ruling party, as a welcome development.
This was made known to newsmen in Kano on Friday by the state chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Abbas, at a press conference.
The chairman, however, warned that as the party opens it’s registration to all, there will be no special treatment to anybody as it will not stop the antigraft agencies in the country from doing their job against corrupt individuals wanting to seek protection by joining the party.
“The attention of the party has been drawn to speculations of the impending decamping of the leader of the expelled faction of the NNPP, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso into the party.
“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 new 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 stated.
More so, the party assured it’s elected officials from the wards to the local governments, senatorial and state levels that they will continue to function as provided by the party rules.
“Also, we want to assure our elected party officials from the ward, local government, senatorial and state levels that they will continue to function as provided by the tenure of their office in the party constitution.
“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 scuttled their political goodwill and have become political lepers in the national scheme of things and are looking to the APC for political relevance” he said.
“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 for refuge in the APC to escape from the fangs of anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and 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 emphasize 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 on the briefing by the Kano state chairman, the state chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Hashimu Dungurawa described the moves by Kwankwaso as beyond the decisions of the state chapter adding that Kwankwaso is speaking with their masters at the top.
“Not even the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje can influence anything in this issue. It is beyond him.
“He can only receive instructions on what to and what not to do from above, where Kwankwaso is communicating with” he told Leadership.
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” he added.