Can el-Rufai survive second terms bid if Senators Hunkuyi, Sani dump APC?
Strong indications emerged weekend that the stage is set for two powerful politicians and their supporters are about to leave ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna State following the unreconcilable differences seating between them and the governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai since recently.
Whereas Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi-led faction of the APC in Kaduna State says it is considering defecting to another political party barely few months to the 2019 general elections, it was gathered that the differences between the Governor and Senator Shehu Sani are becoming deeper and out of reconciliation.
Suleiman Hunkuyi-led faction, known as APC Akida, in a statement in Kaduna weekend averred that it has concluded a review of the state of the party and governance issues in the state and the nation and was considering leaving the party they worked hard to put in place.
The group said it would take the decision “if there is no visible evidence of success in addressing the damaging levels of alienation and frustration among the millions of party faithful in Kaduna State”.
Prominent among the group are Senator Shehu Seni, Isah Ashiri, former APC governorship aspirant, Mr. Mataimaki Tom Maiyashi, among others.
Mr. Tom Maiyashi, Chairman of the group, who signed the statement, said two recent events in the state chapter of the party have confirmed its fears of the absence of credible and legitimate party leadership.
These, he said, were capable of destroying the credibility and popularity of the party.
“The party congresses, and the Local Government Councils elections, in Kaduna State have confirmed the fears that the absence of credible and legitimate party leadership in our state will destroy its credibility and popularity.
“These are fears which the Akida group had raised since the early days of the administration of Nasir el-Rufai.
“The congresses have exposed the contempt for popular participation by the Governor and his hand-picked choir.
“Our party has lost massive popularity and goodwill as a result of attempts to force the choices of an unpopular government on party faithful,” noted.
Maiyashi said those who emerged as leaders of the party from the congresses enjoy no support or legitimacy among party faithfuls.
