By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
The Sokoto state Chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) on Saturday conducted a smooth ward Congresses exercise to elect new excos across the 244 wards in the state without he participation of Sokoto Assembly Speaker , Aminu Manya Achida and Representative Abdullahi Balarabe Salame of the HoRs.
However, the two political actors, Manya and Hon. Salame , member representing Illela/ Gwadabawa Federal Constituency in lower chamber, failed to participate in the hitch free exercise conducted via consensus.
Though , not unexpected, the duo had few days before the exercise, allegedly cried foul and demanded free and fair conduct that would be independent of likely imposition .
They were also absent at the stakeholders meeting summoned and held at the party’s Sultan Abubakar road , Sokoto state Headquarters preparatory the congresses conducted in all the wards across the 23 LGs.
Our Correspondent learnt that the non participation of the duo at the two crucial event and exercise may not be far from their earlier agitations against the politics of godfatherism they seem to abhor.
The two lawmakers had allegedly accused some top APC leaders in the state for attempting to leverage on the past practice of ” godfatherism ” to impose candidates against the popular democratic wish of members.
Against the development, the state caretaker Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Isa Sadiq Achida dispel their claimed and allegation saying that the lawmakers were extended invitation to freely participating the the process in their capacity as bonafide card carrying members of the party.
” To our utmost surprise and dismay, the two lawmakers turned down the invitations by refusing to attend the stakeholders meeting without rendering any excuse nor apology to the party for so doing.”
Earlier, during the stakeholders meeting, a team of election monitors from the National headquarters of the party led by Alhaji Abubakra Suleiman Iyan Akko said they were in the Sokoto state to witness and affirm the consensus process as well the conduct of the congresses as scheduled.
Akko also expressed optimism that the exercise would yield the desired results of peaceful, smooth, free and fair conduct in the interest of the party’s unity and strength ahead of its vision .
