TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Chanchaga LGA of Niger has suspended Babangida Aliyu, former governor of the state.

In a communique issued at the end of their meeting on Monday, the LG chapter of the party accused Aliyu of “working against the election success” of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

The communique was signed by eight ward chairmen of the PDP out of the ten in the LGA. 

However, the north-central zonal caretaker committee of the party has dismissed the suspension, saying it is not possible.

“Truth is that Dr. Babangida Aliyu is not and cannot be suspended by his local government chapter of the party,” Suleiman Mohammed, spokesman of the caretaker committee, said in a statement.

TheCable could not immediately reach the former governor for comment.

The suspension is coming amid the lingering crisis that has torn the PDP in Niger apart since its botched state congress in 2020.

The LGA party leaders levelled six allegations against Aliyu and asked him to respond within two weeks.

They listed the allegations as follows:

• Causing disaffection within the party hierarchy after several attempts at making peace which he has either rebuffed or frustrated.
• Anti-party activities leading to cracks in the party including insubordination to the authority of the then-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan which caused loss of government at Federal and State levels.
• Funding of opposition APC in 2015 with the sum of N450 million to defeat his own party the PDP in Niger State in 2015.
• Refusal to participate and attend party activities.
• Undermining and working against the resolution of party organs, especially the State Caucus.
• Causing division that has led to the inability to resolve the issues surrounding the position of State Legal Adviser zoned to his own Local Government Area.