The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, asking the force to probe those behind the purported suspension of the party’s National Chairman and former governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The APC in a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka, said the perpetrators of the “criminal act” were not card carrying members or legitimate officials of the APC in Ganduje’s ward.

The APC legal adviser in Ganduje’s ward in Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, Haladu Maigwanjo, on Monday announced his suspension at a press conference in Kano.

Maigwanjo said Ganduje was suspended from the party to allow him face corruption charges against him by the Kano State Government. But the state chapter of the party swiftly nullified the purported suspension.

The national spokesman of the APC in the statement on Tuesday asked the top echelon of the police to fish out perpetrators of the “crime” and bring them to justice.

“The purported suspension was the devious act of a group of impersonators of ward officials out to cause mischief and create confusion in the otherwise peaceful Ganduje Ward chapter of our party.

“The perpetrators of this criminal act are not card carrying members of APC in the ward but are individuals affiliated with senior officials and representatives of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

“This act procured by officials of the ruling NNPP in Kano is part of the despicable programme of political persecution launched by the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf against Dr. Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State.

“The purported suspension is downright criminal, and of no effect whatsoever. The legitimate Executive Committee of the Ganduje Ward has since denounced the action and reaffirmed Dr. Ganduje as a bona fide member of the party in the ward, and in good standing.

“The party has filed a petition with the Inspector-General of Police requesting an expedited investigation of this matter and that the perpetrators and their sponsors be brought to justice. We urge our party faithful and the general public to disregard reports of the suspension of the National Chairman who is, and remains, the National Chairman of our great party.” (Daily Trust)

Update news