APC congress: Aggrieved members hold three lawmakers hostage in Kaduna

From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

It was pandemonium at the venue of All Progressive Congress Party (APC) stakeholders meeting in Kaduna yesterday when aggrieved party members disrupted the meeting as they held three lawmakers hostage at the venue.

The three lawmakers held hostage include two APC members of the House of Representatives and one member of the Kaduna state House of Assembly.

The meeting was convened by Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to mediate on the ward congress crisis in the party.

It was gathered that Kwankwaso was asked by the Party’s National leadership to mediate and settle aggrieved party members in the state.

Sources from the party said the meeting was meant for stakeholders in Kaduna South, Kaduna North and Igabi Local government Area of the state.

The meeting which was scheduled for 10 am at the Guest House of Kano State Governor along Sultan Road, Unguwar Sarki, could not hold because of the members that stormed the venue to express their dissatisfaction on what they described as injustice within the party.

The aggrieved members, mostly youths, blocked the entrance as they insulted all senior party members going into the guest house for the meeting.

It was gathered that the lawmakers held hostage inside the house were threatened by the youth as they vow to beat them up if they step out.

“Governor Kwankwaso’s plead fell on deaf ear as the youth refused to listen to him. The three lawmakers held captive inside the house were Alhaji Bala Yunusa Minority Leader in Kaduna state House of Assembly representing Tudun wada constituency.

“Barrister Ibrahim Zero, House of Representatives Members representing Igabi Local government and Alhaji Rufai Chanchangi representing Kaduna South at the house of representative Abuja,” said APC chieftain who was at the meeting but do not want to be mentioned.

Shehu Usman APC member representing Kaduna North at the House of Representatives was also said to have been attacked at the venue by the youth but his Media Adviser, Zubairu Shan’una, denied the allegation saying he was not attacked.

It was further gathered that all efforts to plead with the aggrieved members to allow the lawmakers out of the house since the meeting couldn’t hold prove abortive as they insisted they must deal with them if they dared to come out.

Peoples Daily further gathered that angry Kwankwaso left the venue in his car after some hours without holding the meeting. It was learnt that the lawmakers were set free after the youths were made to believe that they were inside Kwankwaso’s vehicle.