By: Oliver Kum, January 25, 2022
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| Hon. Rufus Bature, APC Chairman Plateau State, promised level playing ground for all aspirants |
The Chairman of Jos North Local Government Council, Hon. Shehu Usman Bala is alleged to have issued threats to APC Delegates in Ali Kazaure Ward of Jos North Local Government Area to either cast their votes for Hon. Abbey Aku in the forthcoming party primary for the Bye-Election for Jos North Bassa Federal Constituency scheduled for February 26, 2022 or loose their positions.
A credible source informed this medium that the meeting was held on Monday 24th January, 2022 at the Ward headquarters which incidentally, is the Chairman's Ward.
The Council Chairman is said to have told the EXCO members that the order was in line with Governor Lalong's instructions following a meeting held in Abuja on January 17, 2022 on the issue.
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| Hon. Shehu Bala, Chairman Jos North Local Government Council allegedly threatened delegates to vote a particular aspirant |
Another source also informed this medium that the Chairman has equally scheduled meetings with other EXCO members in the 13 Wards of the LGA for the purpose of delivering same purpoted order of the Governor.
Some stakeholders who spoke to African Drum on condition of anonymity expressed dismay over the development which they described as unhealthy taking into cognizance the challenges the party in the state was going through which reached its apogee with the decision of some members to leave the party.
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| Hon. Abbey Aku, alleged Gov. Lalong's anointed aspirant |
Also, while some stakeholders held that the Council Chairman was executing the decision of the Governor and the party, others counted the party out of it stressing that the party has made it public on several occasions in addition to a meeting held by the State EXCO and resolved to remain neutral and do the needful by providing a level playing ground for all the Aspirants.
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| Hon. Suleimain Kwande an Aspirant for the Bye-Election detest Council Chairman's decision |
Responding on the matter, Hon. Rufus Bature the Plateau State Chairman of the APC said he wasn't aware of such a meeting and was equally not convinced that the Governor would issue such an instruction. Speaking further on the position of the party in the state regarding the ambition of Aspirants for the Bye-Election, Hon. Bature said, "We are preparing for a level playing ground for all the candidates to canvass for and be voted for in a primary election via indirect election".
All efforts to elicit the response of the Chairman of Jos North Local Government, Hon. Shehu Bala before press time proved abortive as he neither picked our phone call nor responded to our text message.
However some of the aspirants Hon. Suleimain Kwande and Hon. Peter Akuja) all expressed surprised on the decision of the Council Chairman noting that the Chairman was doing his bidding and not that of Governor Lalong.
"If it's true that the Chairman summoned the meeting then it's unfortunate more so that he is supposed to be a father to all. More worrisome is the claim of the Chairman that he issued the threats in line with Governor's instructions. Though I have my doubts that he was speaking the voice of the Governor. I had a meeting with the Governor, it was an APC family meeting and I must tell you that the governor did not give any specific instructions regarding any aspirant. The Governor only pleaded with the party, pleaded with other aspirants to see reason with him and allowed Bassa Local Government come with a candidate. The Governor did not at anytime asked us to give up our aspirations for Abbey. He only asked us to see reason with him and allow Bassa to come up with a candidate for the Bye-Election. So, I am surprised that the Chairman would have the audacity to say he has gotten instructions from His Execllency to issue that kind of a threat, I think he should be called to order. People like me would surely take it up with him", Hon. Suleimain Kwande said.
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| Hon. Peter Akuja expressed dismay over Chairman's decision |
Equally speaking, Hon. Akuja believed that Gov Lalong as not only a democrat but a beneficiary of genuine democracy would not come so low to issue that kind of instructions. "I am not aware of any meeting. I am just hearing it from you journalist. But if it is true then it's highly unfortunate. As a human being, the Chairman may have a soft spot for a particular aspirant but for him to issue threats to delegates for the ambition of a particular aspirant is unfortunate. It's most unfortunate when he claimed he was carrying out the Governor's instructions", Akujah said.
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