By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
Abubakar Malami, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice yesterday came under stiff opposition following vehement tackle from loyalists and supporters in the Sokoto state chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), urging President Muhammadu Buhari ensure his resignation for allege abuse of office by pre-empting Court judgement over the party crisis in the state.
Alhaji Sadiq Isa Achida , the embattled state chairman of the party led the overwhelming loyalists in their numbers demanding the resignation of the Minister.
Malami is said to be among top contenders hoping to succeed governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state by 2023 on the APC platform .
Addressing reporters in Sokoto in reaction to Malami’s statement, Achida who noted that the crises which manifested at different levels said it was highly and glaringly unfortunate for the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to drag his exalted office into a murky mud as Chief Law officer for preemptive the Court.
” The Minister had breached the sanctity of the constitution and his oath of office, which require him not to allow his personal interest to influence official conduct, ” Sadiq-Achida said.
” By Malami’s singular act of recognising a faction of APC in Sokoto state, having know the matter is still pending before Court of Appeal”, Achida pointed out .
The embattled Chairman, however, called on the acting National Chairman of APC not to
hesitate to expel Malami because of his numerous roles in destabilizing APC in Sokoto, Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara and Kwara States among others.
Achida emphatically stated that Malami’s and Senator Ibrahim Shekarau’s presence at a function in Sokoto was a not short of a calculated attempt and with an ulterior motive to disrupt the party’s unity in Sokoto state.
Achida argued further that if Shekarau has any expertise in political manipulation, he should redirect it toward achieving his ambition of controlling the APC in Kano state rather than Sokoto.
” The duo came to Sokoto with single mission to destabilize the APC in Sokoto state, We feel bold to tell them that they lost party control in their state, in Sokoto also their mission is dead on arrival ”/He added.
In the same vein, to strengthen the basis and credibility of the the press conference, Achida said it was on behalf of Sokoto state APC Senators, House of Representative members, Elders Committee, State and local government executives and others while urging all APCs supporters in the state to disregard the utterances of the duo and remain united in support of APC leader, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, who is committed to the progress of APC at all levels.
However, Malami had on Sunday publicly endorsed factional Chairman of APC in Sokoto State, Alhaji Mainasara Sani in his address at the distribution of empowerment tools to constituents by Representative Abdullahi Balarabe Salame (APC- Gwadabawa/Illela).
The minister’s recognition of Sani
as APC State Chairman triggered widespread reactions and criticisms among APC loyalists and residents.
There are on-going legal disputes on the legality of the last APC state congress and who to be recognised as the correct chairman in Sokoto State between Sani and Sirajo Abubakar.
Abubakar and others instituted a suit challenging the congress that produced Sani as chairman while another group, led by Isa Sadiq-Achida also filed a case in a separate suit.
Sadiq-Achida had asked the court to restrain APC from recognising Sani and others as officers and delegates of the ward, local government and state congresses of the party which held on Oct. 13, Sept. 14, and Oct. 16, 2021, respectively.
