Niger: Plot to endorse Gov. Bello for 2nd term deepens APC crisis

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

The Niger State All Progressives Congress (APC) crisis deepens as some members of the National Assembly from the state are set to boycott the party unity rally slated for this Saturday in Minna, the state capital.
The unity rally which is in furtherance to the earlier peace meeting among members of the party, which took place in Abuja last week, where all the elected members of the party, except Senator representing Niger East senatorial district, Senator David Umaru where in attendance.
But sources from the camp of these National Assembly members indicated that they are not disposed to the rally and the motives behind it and have therefore decided not to attend.
The rally is meant to among other things, endorse President Mohammadu, Buhari and the governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello for second time in office.
Consequently, all the National and state Assembly members are to be endorsed for second time in office according to plan A reliable source revealed that the Senator representing Niger North senatorial district, Senator Rabi has been mandated by the party, after its peace meeting in Abuja, to liaise with all the National Assembly members to get their consent on the proposed endorsement.
Apparently, a Senator referred to as “peace Ambassador” was said to have met a brick wall when some of the lawmakers told him that the idea of automatic tickets for all elected members in the state will not be a healthy one for the party.
According to our source, the lawmakers said they are not disposed to the idea, and would rather prefer to test their popularity before the electorates at the party primaries.
The unity rally is expected to climax the ongoing local government “meet the people’s tour” by the state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello.
According to source close to the party in Minna, President Mohammadu Buhari is expected to attend the rally which will coincided with his visit to the state, and will formerly receive some decampees into the party.
The President will also be commissioning a 10 kilometer road started by the previous administration but completed by the APC administration.
The secretary of the party Barrister Mohammed Liman said that the proposed unity rally is in furtherance to the Abuja peace meeting which he said was solely meant to unite the aggrieved National Assembly members with the governor.
He disclosed that the rift between the governor and the lawmakers informed the decision of the party executive to organize a reconciliation meeting in Abuja last week “and all of them except Senator Umoru whom we were told was engaged in a legislative assignment, were in attendance”.
“In furtherance to the Abuja reconciliation meeting, the party has scheduled February 18, for a unity rally in Minna where members from across the state are expected to gather to brainstorm and chart a way forward”.