A splinter group within the Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to Senators Shehu Sani and Othman Hunkuyi have announced their exit from the ruling party.
The groups – APC Restoration group and APC Akida said their decision was based on lack of internal democracy within the party and failure of governance.
The leader of APC Restoration group, Tom Maiyashi, told journalists in Kaduna on Friday that the group decided to leave the APC because the party has failed to meet up with the expectations of Nigerians who voted them into power.
Although they did not state the political party which they will be joining, Maiyashi said consultations are ongoing with other political parties with a view to identifying the party where they will pitch their tents.
“Members of our two groups have decided to leave the APC because it is incapable of accommodating and responding to well-meaning dissent, criticism, and demands for inclusiveness and internal democracy.
“It has not lived up to the expectations of the millions of people who laboured to put in power, as well as Nigerian who expected that it will usher in genuine change.
“We are hereby advising all our teeming members to formalize their withdrawal from the APC. We are engaged in serious discussions with parties which share our value and principles toward political collaboration that best suits our interests,” Maiyashi said
Explaining the reasons why the two Senators – Sani and Hunkuyi did not attend the press conference, the faction leader said this was due to security concerns. He noted that the Senators were attacked by thugs during their last two press conferences which they addressed in the state capital.
The Chief of Staff to Senate President Bukola Saraki, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who is also a member of the Akida group, dumped APC weeks ago citing underperformance of the APC as one of the reasons for his action.
