Zakari Jikantoro resigns as Niger APC chairman, says it’s voluntary

Zakari Jikantoro has resigned from his position as the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state.

Jikantoro announced his resignation on Friday in Minna, the state capital, after briefing party executives on the resolutions taken at the national executive council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Thursday.

Jikantoro said his decision to resign as the chairman of the party was voluntary and in the best interest of the party.

He said his resignation has nothing to do with what transpired at the NEC meeting.

“I on my own humbly and voluntarily wish to resign my position as the chairman of APC in Niger,” he said.

“This is the reason why I invited the media to come and cover the meeting.

“I don’t have issues with my colleagues, here we are seated, you can see the special adviser on politics to the governor here seated.

“I have made wide consultations before taking this decision. It is by way of adding value to the party.

“So, there is no crisis like people will think, no fighting, it is just a voluntary resignation.”

Jikantoro said Aminu Bobi, the zonal chairman, would act as the party leader in the interim.

Commenting on the development, Nma Kolo, special adviser on political matters to Umar Bago, the state governor, said there was no division between the chairman and the party.

Kolo added that the party chairman summoned a meeting with officials of the state government where he broke the news of his resignation.

He said after much deliberation, Bago accepted his resignation.