The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, has said pride between past and present governors of the party is the reason behind the crisis in some of its state chapters.

Speaking at the party`s 11th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, he said lack of unity in some of the party`s state chapters could cost its electoral victory in 2023.

He recalled that in its efforts to unite the party, its former Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) constituted a national reconciliation committee to find lasting peace in the party.

“I know that President Muhammadu Buhari is not unmindful of what happened to the Peoples` Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014 and 2015 when it lost the presidential election.

Our party is not immune to similar fate should it conduct itself in such a way that continues to undermine the legacy of the founding fathers to build this party.

“I was the chairman of the national reconciliation committee and came out of the assignment fully conversant of the problems.

“The battle rarely is a battle for supremacy between serving state governors and their predecessors in office, it is a crisis fueled by ego, so ego is the enemy,’’ he said.

Adamu, who is a former governor of Nasarawa State, said pride between former and serving governors of the APC had turned them into worst enemies.

He said because of pride, groups supporting the party`s past and serving governors were putting it in jeopardy, adding that such Crises could affect the party`s electoral victory in 2023 general elections.

“The serving and past governors are powerful men, each of them are leaders in their own right in there states, but when two elephants fight, the grass suffers.

“Similarly, when two powerful politicians fight, the party suffers, because the speech and actions of these powerful men will bring a filthy and odious stench to our party,’’ he said.

Adamu said while the party`s former governors were seen as powerful in their own way, incumbent governors remained the party`s leaders in their respective states.

This, he said, was in line with the party’s Constitution, adding that APC former governors must recognise that fact and respect its state structure.

“Our party’s Constitution makes no room for two party leaders in a state, there is no reason to compete with serving governors for the leadership of the party,’’ Adamu said.

Some dignitaries at the meeting included President, Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC governors, state chairmen and other members of the National Working Committee (NEC).

APC governors were lead to the meeting by the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI deployed at Bakura Local Government Area of Zamfara State have killed 15 Armed bandits who attacked Sabon Gari Area of Bakura Town.

The bandits attacked the area on Tuesday evening and started shooting sporadically after rustling a large Number of cattle, troops deployed at Bakura town responded immediately and engaged the Bandits in a gun battle, but superior fire-power of the security forces make the Bandits to leave the rustled cattle and flee towards Kurunkudu into the forest with different degrees of injuries.

A resident of the town said: “We are happy with the quick response of the Nigerian Army Troops here at Bakura, they have assisted us in killing scores of the Bandits who invaded our community and they also helped us to recover all the cattle stolen by the bandits.”

An eyewitness also said 1 person was killed by the bandits while 5 other were injured and are receiving treatment at General Hospital Bakura.

A newly elected member of the House of Representatives representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, Musa Agah Avia, escaped an ambush by gunmen on Tuesday night.

The Lawmaker, his wife and children, as well as his personal assistant and driver, were attacked along twin hills in Miango chiefdom of Bassa local government area of Plateau State, according to a statement signed by the National Secretary of Irigwe Development Association, Danjuma Dickson Auta.

Although they all escaped unharmed, the car was covered with gunfire bullets as the driver bravely maneuvered the vehicle amidst the attackers’ sporadic shooting.

Two others on a motorcycle who were ahead of the lawmaker’s vehicle fled into the ambush and were killed by the attackers, according to the statement.

The event occurred near the site where some people were killed recently at a holiday ritual in the chiefdom, and security forces are yet to respond.

The Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong has informed his party stakeholders in Jos that he has not endorsed or any candidate for Governorship or any political office in the forthcoming general elections.

He made the declaration while addressing the All Progressives Congress (APC) Stakeholders meeting in Government House in Jos.

Lalong made this clarification over unconfirmed insinuations that he has anointed a successor and also endorsed other aspirants contesting for various offices in the state.

Reacting to the insinuation, he said, “I have not endorsed any aspirant for Governor or any other office. While very suitable members of our party have indicated interest to vie for different offices, we are carrying out consultations with all key stakeholders to ensure that at the end of the day, the best persons emerge to fly our party’s flag.

When such time comes, we will make it public and not hide it. I am praying that God will guide all of us to make a choice that is in the best interest of the people and our state and nation”.

According to him, the party will continue to encourage members to build consensus from the grassroots and build healthy competition among aspirants and their supporters before, during and after the elections.

He said although all the aspirants will be given a level playing field to test their popularity and acceptance, at the end of the day the will of the majority will prevail while only one person will emerge for any office.

Lalong cautioned against the negative campaigns and use of foul language by aspirants and their supporters, saying such could end up being counterproductive for the APC as the opposition will use it to discredit the party at the general elections.

On the deadline for public servants and appointees seeking elections to resign, he said he gave them till the end of this week for those yet to comply to do so in order not to fall foul of the new electoral law.

Lalong thanked the APC members for their support and sacrifices, particularly during the last bye-elections in which the party won one and lost one, urging that they should close ranks to ensure victory in the forthcoming bye-elections for Bassa and Jos East State Constituencies.

He assured that the ongoing projects such as the British America Flyover, Legacy Projects and the Jos main market billed to commence soon will be completed before the end of his administration.

Similarly, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Idris Wase charged members of the APC in Plateau State to come together and work in unity for the success of the party at the Local, State and national levels.

1. He admonished the party faithful to continue to support Governor Lalong who is the leader of APC in Plateau State, particularly towards ensuring that a smooth succession plan is attained where APC will retain the Governorship and win more seats at the State and Federal Levels.

A few number of persons have been confirmed killed following a bomb explosion that hits a drinking joint at a cattle market in Iware Community, a suburb of Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State.

At least 19 other persons have also been confirmed injured and receiving treatment at various health centres within the community and beyond.

The state Police Public Relations Officer Abdullahi Usman said this is the second time such explosion is taking place with the first at a catholic school in Mutum Biyu, the headquarters of Gassol Local Government Area, 30 kilometres away from each other a month ago.

Usman added that security operatives have been drafted to the scene to commence investigation as well as douse the tension already created.

Iware Community is known for its cattle market and attracts buyers from all over Nigeria and neigbouring Cameroon who storm the market every Tuesday to make purchases at affordable prices.

An eye witness Sunday Pantuvo, who narrowly escaped with injuries said the alleged bomber came to the drinking joint with a friend as customers, ordered for a drink and left in separate ways.

The alleged bomber later returned, paid for the drink and dropped a polythene bag which is said to contain the explosive and stepped aside.

Few minutes later, he said he was going in search of his friend and seconds after the bomb exploded.

Pantuvo said one of the suspected bombers was later caught and killed by the angry residents who cut his body into parts in anger.

Former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso, has formally declared for the 2023 presidential race.

Kwankwaso who bought the form by himself, picked the Presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), on Tuesday, he urged Nigerians especially politicians who truly want to change the image of the country for good to join NNPP.

Speaking at the national headquarters of the NNPP while collecting the forms, Kwankwanso said his party will take over power in 2023.

“This is a progressive party that want to change the political landscape of this country. If you go to any ward now, the party people are talking about now is NNPP. Those who want to grow this country should join NNPP.

This country has never been divided like this before and we are people who want to unite this country regardless of religion and tribe because the country is for all of us,” Kwankwanso said.

Kwankwanso said: “Let me at this point also invite all Nigerians to register in NNPP. Go to your wards and register. We have been printing membership cards and they are being exhausted.

“For people who want to join politics, come and buy the forms at the headquarters of the NNPP. For the state house of assembly, forms are at the state level.”