The All Progressives Congress (APC) has insisted that anyone seeking to join its ranks, including the factional leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, must first publicly apologise for past derogatory remarks made against President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and other party leaders.

Kano State APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, made this known on Friday, stating that while the ruling party is open to welcoming Kwankwaso and other decampees, they must meet certain conditions ? chief among them, a public apology.

He emphasised that the APC values loyalty and respect, and would not compromise its principles for political convenience.

?We unequivocally call on all those prospective decampees who have earlier made derogatory statements against our leaders, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his deputy Senator Kashim Shettima, to offer a public apology as a sign of remorse, and respect for future relationships,? Abbas said.

Abbas noted that APC as a political institution in its renewed hope agenda has embarked on the project of receiving decampees from all political parties and the party?s attention was drawn to speculations about Kwankwaso?s impending decampment into the party.

According to him, APC remains Kwankwaso?s last political refuge as he has destroyed his relationships with all other political groupings in the country.

?Without prejudice to our desire as a party to welcome new entrants and in respect of the constitutional rights of citizens to belong to political parties of their choice, we wish to state our position as a state chapter of our great party in Kano state.

?We have already directed our ward chapters to open registers for new decampees irrespective of their political and social status, in line with our party?s constitution.

?We advise all those desirous of joining our esteemed party to go to their respective wards and register.

?For the purpose of seeking any future party or elective position, any old or new entrants, shall be free to exercise their constitutional rights of voting or being voted for without any special preference.

?We are fully aware that some people are desperate to join the APC because they have scuttled their political goodwill and have become political lepers in the national scheme of things and are looking to the APC for political relevance.

?We are also aware that some politicians are trying to run away from accounting for their corrupt misdeeds both in government and party administration, and seeking for refuge in the APC to escape from the fangs of anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC.

?However, joining APC as a political party is not a panacea for escaping from their past sins.

?For the avoidance of doubt, let me emphasize that the APC as a political party does not and will not encourage or promote the existence of cult-like associations in the name of political activities or groupings,? the APC chairman stated. (The Nation)

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