A faction of All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Baba Aminu, has emerged in Niger. Aminu emerged as the chairman of the interim executive committee of his faction after a congress of the faction in Minna on Monday.
He told newsmen shortly after the election that APC in the state was one and that there is no splinter group.
“We are the authentic and recognised leaders of APC in Niger State, any other group parading itself as APC is not recognised by our party,’’ he said.
This development came two weeks after the election of the interim executive committee of the party in the state.
The National leadership conducted interim election in the state on Nov 11, where Ibrahim Shettima, emerged as the state chairman of APC.
In swift reaction, Shettima said a committee had been constituted to mediate with the aggrieved members of the party.
“In the spirit of togetherness, a committee has been set up to pacify and assuage the fears of aggrieved members in order to achieve genuine reconciliation,’’ Shettima said.
He said it was appropriate to identify the reasons for the acrimony between the leadership of the party in the state and resolve them.
He said the election that produced the interim executive headed by him was supervised by an officer appointed by the interim national leadership of the party. “Our legitimacy is, therefore, not in doubt,’’ he said.
Shettima said the faction’s application for waivers of the template used for the conduct of the Nov. 11 election to accommodate their interest was rebuffed.
He said: “our legitimacy notwithstanding, we extend our hands of fellowship to our brothers and sisters in that camp.
“We call on them to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship by coming back to the fold. It is only by so doing that the party can effect the desired change in the socio-political and economic development of the state,’’ Shettima said.