Bauchi NDC chairman disowns purported defection to APM
By Ahmed Ahmed
The substantive Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Bauchi State, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigari Misau, has refuted reports that the state executive of the party defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Misau described the purported defection as false and misleading, saying those who presented themselves as the NDC state executive were neither the authentic leadership of the party nor, in some cases, members of the NDC.
He made the clarification in a statement signed by him on Thursday in Bauchi , in reaction to reports that the entire NDC state executive had joined the APM and declared support for Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.
Misau said he remained the substantive Chairman of the NDC in Bauchi State, insisting that the party’s legitimate executive had not defected to the APM.
He urged Gov. Bala Mohammed to verify the identity, status and authenticity of the individuals presented to him as NDC executives before accepting such political claims.
According to him, the governor should cross-check the development with the APM State Chairman and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), as well as relevant records of the NDC, to establish the facts.
Misau alleged that the individuals involved were attempting to deceive the governor by falsely presenting themselves as the leadership of the NDC in the state.
“They are scammers who want to deceive His Excellency, Gov. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed,” he said.
The chairman maintained that the purported defection did not represent the position of the NDC or its recognised state executive.
He therefore advised political leaders and members of the public to exercise caution and verify claims of party defections, particularly when such claims involve purported entire party structures.
Misau said the NDC would continue to operate under its legitimate leadership in Bauchi State and urged its members and supporters to disregard the purported announcement of the state executive’s defection to the APM.
The clarification followed a report that individuals led by one Muntaqa Ahmad Zubairu, who was described as NDC State Chairman, had led members of the party’s purported state structure to the Bauchi Government House, where they announced their defection to the APM.
The report also quoted the purported NDC State Secretary, Alhassan Danlami Bako, as saying that the party’s leadership across the 20 Local Government Areas had resolved to join the APM.
Misau, however, dismissed the claim, stressing that the individuals did not constitute the authentic NDC state executive in Bauchi.