The All Progressives Congress has issued a firm denial regarding circulating rumours that notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has registered as a party member. In a strong statement released by the party's national leadership, officials have categorically dismissed the alleged membership slip as a complete fabrication designed to mislead the public and damage the party's reputation.
APC National Leadership Addresses the Controversy
Felix Morka, the APC's national spokesperson, released an official statement clarifying that the supposed membership slip featuring Bello Turji bears no connection to the party's legitimate membership register. The statement specifically noted that the slip contains multiple false parameters, including registration in a non-existent "Ward 13" of Shinkafi Local Government Area in Zamfara State, which actually has only ten wards.
Morka emphasized that all information presented on the circulated slip is nonexistent within the APC's official membership database. The party described this development as a "vile fabrication" created by mischief makers with sinister objectives to confuse the public and undermine political processes.
Zamfara Chapter Provides Technical Clarification
The Zamfara State chapter of the APC has echoed the national position, with state spokesperson Yusuf Idris Gusau providing additional technical details about why the alleged membership cannot be valid. Gusau explained that the party's electronic membership registration system requires a National Identification Number for any legitimate registration, a requirement that Bello Turji is unlikely to meet given his status as a wanted bandit leader.
The state chapter characterized the circulated slip as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the party's image during its ongoing electronic membership registration exercise across Zamfara. Officials stressed that the forgery represents an effort by political adversaries to discredit the party through misinformation and sensational claims.
Political Figures React to the Controversy
Bashir Ahmad, a former presidential aide to late President Muhammadu Buhari and prominent APC stalwart, expressed astonishment that educated individuals would believe the report about Turji's alleged party membership. In a statement posted on his verified social media account, Ahmad described the situation as deeply troubling and indicative of broader problems with misinformation in the public sphere.
Ahmad specifically questioned how anyone could genuinely believe that a notorious bandit leader would join a political party, particularly the ruling APC. He characterized the acceptance of the fake photo as evidence of declining critical thinking and the dangerous spread of misinformation within Nigerian political discourse.
Broader Context of Security Operations
This controversy emerges against the backdrop of ongoing military operations against bandit groups in Zamfara State and surrounding regions. Recent reports indicate that security forces have achieved significant successes against Turji's network, including the neutralization of his lieutenant Kachalla Kallamu during coordinated operations in Sabon Birni.
Military engagements have resulted in the recovery of multiple rifles and ammunition after prolonged gunfights that forced terrorist elements to retreat. These security developments provide important context for understanding why rumours about political affiliations of wanted bandit leaders generate such significant public attention and concern.
The APC's strong denial represents an effort to maintain clear separation between legitimate political processes and criminal elements operating in Nigeria's security-challenged regions. Party officials have urged the public to disregard the fabricated membership slip and remain focused on substantive political engagement rather than sensational misinformation.
