Shiite denies endorsing APGA presidential candidate

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) also known as the Shiite movement has denied endorsing the candidature of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Maj-Gen. John Gbor (rtd) for the February 16 election.

A spokesman of the Resource Forum of IMN, Muhammad Ibrahim Gamawa, said on Sunday in a statement that a newspaper report that the followers of Shia Islam in Nigeria under one Amir Sadiq Muhammed, who paraded himself as the movements National Secretary, a position not known to the IMN should be ignored.

According to him, the impostor would have been ignored if he had not mentioned the Zaria and recent Abuja clashes between IMN members and the Military and which the victims are 100 percent followers of Sheikh Zakzaky.

“It is on this note that we as members of the IMN wish to state here without any ambiguity that there was no such negotiation between us and APGA or any other party; even though the movement has expressed readiness to support a candidate that believes in fairness, religious freedom and does not pursue a sectarian agenda such as crushing minority religious groups in the country.

“This contradicts the Nigerian constitution that guaranteed the freedom of worship. It is important for the general public to know that contrary to the five million votes the fraudster Amir Sadiq Mohammed mentioned in the said report, the movement has more than eight million registered voters who would go out on the Election Day and cast their votes to the candidate that believes in justice, fairness and religious freedom,” Gamawa said.

He added that the IMN do not have anything against any political party in Nigeria, neither were they a political group.

He said, “It is pertinent to know that no adherent of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky will ever support a party or any candidate that has taken it upon himself to wipe out Shia Muslims in the country.”