Protesters hold Oshiomohole hostage

Adams oshiomhole

• Former IGP berates NWC over exclusion from N’Assembly race
• Aggrieved Kano aspirants threaten legal action over results of primaries
Hundreds of Senator Muhammed Sani Musa’s supporters yesterday held National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole hostage at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.They were protesting against the party’s failure to clear Musa who aspired for the Niger East senatorial district slot in the just concluded primaries in Niger State.

The protesters, who blocked the secretariat about 4pm yesterday vowed to vent their anger on Oshiomhole if they see him.Consequently, Oshiomhole was forced to remain in his office until 7:30pm even as scores or heavily armed policemen were sighted coming from the police headquarters to rescue members of the National Working Committee (NWC), who were at work at the complex.

The protesters carried several placards with inscription such as: No To Oshiomhole’s Dictatorial Rule; On Justice We Stand; We Want Senator Musa; and No To Imposition Of Candidates. Others poured invectives on Oshiomhole, as they shouted on top of their voices.

In a related development, a former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba yesterday stormed the APC secretariat, berating the Oshiomhole-led NWC for excluding him from senatorial contest.Abba, who bought expression of interest and nomination forms for N7 million to vie for the Jigawa South senatorial district ticket was initially cleared but later disqualified from participating in the primaries.

The party did not give any reasons for the disqualification of Abba, who was IGP when President Muhammadu Buhari defeated former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 polls.Abba, who was visibly angry over the development, accused the Oshiomhole-led NWC of playing God, adding that God would surely visit His wrath on the executive over the injustice meted out to him.

Also, supporters of Liaison Officer to President Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, stormed the party secretariat in Abuja protesting against the victory of Senator Kabiru Gaya in the party’s primary election for the Kano South senatorial district.Meanwhile, some aggrieved aspirants under the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kano yesterday rejected the outcome of the party’s primaries, vowing to challenge the results in court if the national leadership fails to address their concern.

Confusion and crisis of interests had characterised the exercise, especially in Turauni, Kumbotso and Municipal following declaration of two conflicting results released by two returning officers in the same constituency.However, two presidential aides, who earlier lost bid to secure House of Representatives slots, finally made the party’s list submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on broadcast media, Ibrahim Sha’aban Sharada lost in the Municipal federal constituency to Nutari Isiaq, a former local council chairman and associate of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Special Assistant on Economic Matters, office of the Vice President, Hafizu Ibrahim’s chance is also threatened as two conflicting results were released in his Tarauni constituency.

Addressing journalists yesterday, spokesman of the group, Senator Isa Yahya Zarewa, disclosed that aspirants who contested senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly tickets, have decided to seek redress in the law courts over the development.