Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in their hundreds yesterday on Wednesday shut down the national secretariat of the party, demanding the reversal of Prince Abubakar Audu’s emergence as the governorship candidate in the forthcoming Kogi election.
Audu, last Saturday emerged the party flag bearer ahead the November 21 governorship election in Kogi state, beating 27 other aspirants.
The former governor who had on Tuesday, denied the certificate of return by the national secretariat on the ground that the grace given to other aspirants to submit petition against the primaries election conducted by governor Nasir El-rufai led committee, was not not over got another shock of his life with the massive protest on Wednesday.
Some of the protesters who carried placards against the former kogi governor candidacy, with boldly inscriptions like “Kogi state say no to Audu, “We need a credible leader in kogi” among others, were also seen throwing stone at Audu’s supporters within the party house premises.
Leader of the protesters, Suleiman Muhammad, told newsmen in an interview that Audu ongoing case with EFCC was enough to disqualify him from the contest.
He said: “We are here to protest against the candidature of Prince Abubakar Audu, under the platform of APC for the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi state. We say no to Abubakar Audu because he has N11 billion Naira corruption case with the EFCC, until he clear himself of the case he has no moral right to present himself for an election.
“The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has declared war against corruption. We the concern citizens of Kogi state are in support of his anti corruption move. We want to toll the line of the APC change mantra and we would not support Audu because of his alleged corruption.”
Sources at the party secretariat had on Tuesday confided in some newsmen that some party leaders were initially not comfortable with Audu’s candidacy, saying he will be to big for them to approach if he eventually emerge as governor.
Reacting to the protest, Audu said ” 90 per cent of people in Senate have cases with the EFCC. for the fact that you have case with the EFCC does not make you a criminal. I have contested four different election since 2007 and I was not disqualified, so what are they talking about. I contested in 2003, 2007 and 2011, what are they talking.
“The case with the EFCC 2003 and since then I have been contesting election. It is those that do not have electoral value that are making noise and using cheap means to discredit me, it is a very unfortunate situation.
“EFFC has so far gone to four different court in Lokoja and when I want to get judgement they will quickly go to another court and restart the case. They are shopping for where they will nail me.
“This country constitution states that one is innocent until a court prove him guilty. They are the chief makers.”
