‘Political persecution’ — APC blames NNPP over contentious suspension of Ganduje 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) of being behind a move to suspend Abdullahi Ganduje, its national chairman.

In a statement on Tuesday, Felix Morka, spokesperson of the APC, said those behind the purported suspension of Ganduje are not members of the party, but people associated with the NNPP.

Morka said the “act was part of the despicable programme of political persecution” by the administration of Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, against the APC national chairman.

“The perpetrators of this criminal act are not card-carrying members of APC in the Ward but are individuals affiliated with senior officials and representatives of the NNPP,” he said.

“This act procured by officials of the ruling NNPP in Kano is part of the despicable program of political persecution launched by the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf against Dr. Ganduje, a former Governor of Kano state.

“The purported suspension is downright criminal, and of no effect whatsoever. The legitimate executive committee of the Ganduje ward has since denounced the action and reaffirmed Dr. Ganduje as a bonafide member of the Party in the Ward, and in good standing.

“The party has filed a petition with the inspector-general of police requesting an expedited investigation of this matter and that the perpetrators and their sponsors be brought to justice.”

The APC executives in Dawakin ward under Tofa LGA of Kano had on Monday suspended Ganduje over the allegations of corruption levelled against him.

But the APC in Kano nullified the suspension and suspended those behind the move from the party for six months.

In 2018, Daily Nigerian, an online newspaper, published a video of Ganduje allegedly receiving bundles of dollars from contractors, which he stuffed into his “babanriga”, a traditional outfit.

The newspaper said Ganduje requested $5 million as a bribe from the contractors who recorded the video.

In 2023, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) invited Ganduje for questioning over the video.