Aspirants for House of Representatives tickets of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State have dissociated themselves from calls to have direct primaries in the state.
The aspirants which include retired CP Sani Magaji and Alhaji Yusuf Ali, who are gunning for the House of Representatives tickets of Chikun/Kajuru and Kaduna South federal constituencies respectively, in separate reactions said there was never a time they endorsed the option of direct primaries.
Magaji, in a letter to the national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, said he was surprised to see his name as one of those who purportedly endorsed direct primaries in the state saying his signature was forged.
He said, “As a retired Commissioner of Police, I feel disturbed by this reckless attempt to link my image and the professional integrity I have built over the years, to that dubious endorsement.
“I would like to make it abundantly clear that, while my loyalty to the party and its leadership remains unshaken, I cannot be a part of any incriminating political gang-up against the state of my birth. I therefore stand solidly behind the indirect primaries model adopted by the leadership of my great party at that level.
He said dragging his name and forgery of his signature were done purposely to soil his political integrity and mislead his supporters. He pledged to sue those behind the attempt to ridicule his professional integrity.
Another aspirant for the House of Representatives seat for Kaduna South on the platform of APC, Yusuf Ali, also dissociated himself from the campaign for the conduct of direct primary election in Kaduna State.
“It has become imperative to set the record straight. I have not been invited nor attended any meeting called by Shehu Sani on direct primaries, yet to my greatest surprise, a list bearing my name and purported signature in support of direct primaries in Kaduna State APC is in circulation.”
Ali said as a loyal party member of the APC, he abides by the decision of the party to conduct indirect primaries in Kaduna State because he strongly believes in the supremacy of the party organs and the ability of the delegates to be fair to all aspirants.
He therefore urged his supporters and the APC in Kaduna State to disregard the inclusion of his name in the list being circulated saying it depicts the antics of a sinking politician “who can hold unto anything including a snake to prevent himself from drowning.”
