The uncertainty surrounding the consensus arrangement in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano has triggered tension over the impending outcome of the screening process, just as serving lawmakers battle with opposition.
Governor's Directive Sparks Unease
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, at an expanded stakeholders meeting on Thursday, announced the adoption of a consensus arrangement for the selection of candidates after declaring zero tolerance for automatic tickets for aspirants. The directive, which mandated all caucuses to return to their constituencies to reach a mutual resolution that will produce consensus candidates within three days, has induced uneasy calm among aspirants and their supporters.
Even though the party has stated that primary elections would be inevitable in situations where consensus fails, crisis is already brewing in some constituencies, as new aspirants are mounting pressure to oust the serving lawmakers.
Doguwa Faces Strong Opposition
For instance, a former Leader of the House of Representatives and member representing Doguwa/Tudun-Wada Federal Constituency, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, is contending with strong opposition from an aspirant, a retired Air Commodore, Salisu Yusahu Soja. Soja, as he is fondly known, has consistently opposed the choice of Doguwa as the consensus candidate for the constituency, a development that has divided the constituency into two, with each faction reaching a separate resolution.
While a faction led by former Commissioner for Finance, Nura Dankadai, adopted Hon. Doguwa as the consensus candidate for the constituency, another faction in the Tudun-Wada axis settled for Air Commodore Soja as its preferred candidate. The two resolutions have already been submitted to the party secretariat.
Jobe Rejected in Rimin-Gado Constituency
Similarly, a crisis is tearing apart the Rimin-Gado/Tofa/Dawakin-Tofa Federal Constituency, where stakeholders rejected the choice of the serving member, Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe. The APC consensus meeting, which was expected to reach an amicable resolution on a choice candidate in the constituency, ended in a free for all, as stakeholders insisted on the nomination of the Chairman of Dawakin-Tofa Local Government, Hon. Anas Muktar Bello Danmaliki, The Guardian reliably gathered.
Senatorial Districts in Turmoil
The senatorial districts have not been left out of the crisis, as six aspirants are battling for the Kano Central Senatorial ticket. Those vying for the seat include Hon. Abdulsalam Abdulkarim Zaura, an international businessman; former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Shaaban Ibrahim Sharada; former Commissioner for Information, Yusuf Garba Yusuf; Mohammad Fath Zango; Hon. Usman Bala; and Hon. Abbas Abbas.
The Guardian was informed that the party may resort to primaries in Kano Central, as none of the aspirants is ready to step down for one another. In Kano North Senatorial District, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau I. Jibrin, is said to be engaged in closed-door meetings with top party leaders in Abuja and Kano to withstand the strong opposition against him. Barau is contending with former Minister of State for Housing, Hon. Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, and Mohammad Mudi Bichi to retain his seat.
An impeccable source, however, revealed that while Barau may be compensated with an automatic ticket to return to the Senate for conceding his governorship ambition to Governor Yusuf, the former minister may be returned to a ministerial position.
Meanwhile, no result of the reconciliation among the contending aspirants had been released as of the time of filing this report, as the process may take the party leadership more time to resolve the differences.
