Aggrieved Aspirant Rejects Rijau/Magama Fed. Constituency APC Primary in Niger State

By YM Bina

An aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for Magama/Rijau federal constituency of Niger state, Shehu Samaila Auna have rejected the imposition of one of a contestant Professor Yakubu Auna as the concensus candidate.

This is contained in a statement he issued and made available to journalists in Minna, he described the selection as a unilateral decision that does not reflect the collective will of the people of the constituency and should be discarded.

Shehu Samaila Auna called on the National Working Committee (NWC) and the State Executive Committee of the APC to set aside the unilateral choice of Professor Yakubu Auna and order the immediate conduct of a Direct Primary Election in the Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency of Niger state.

According to him, Article 20 of the APC Constitution, which mandates democratic processes for candidate selection. While Section 84 (9) of the Electoral Act, stipulated that for a consensus candidate to emerge, there must be written consent from all cleared aspirants.

The statement added, no such agreement was reached. The “choice” of Professor Yakubu Auna as a candidate was a unilateral decision that does not reflect the collective will of the constituents, hence the need for reversal in the interest of fairness, justice, and the victory of the APC in the 2027 General Elections.

“I categorically reject his adoption as the “consensus” candidate. An imposition under the guise of consensus is a violation of the electoral Act and the party’s constitution”.

The aspirant expressed worry that with the currently insecurity bedeviling the communities within the area. The imposition of candidate will further aggravate the situation in the area, calling on the state government and the APC leadership to urgently look into the matter to douse the tension.

Samaila Auna assured to remain loyal party members and are committed to the success of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago’s administration. However, believed that loyalty must be met with equity. Urging the party to provide a level playing field to prevent internal fragmentation that could jeopardize APC chances at the polls.

He stated, “As a committed stakeholder and a frontline aspirant, I entered these deliberations with a spirit of sportsmanship, aiming for a genuine consensus. However, given the outcome of the meeting, which ended in a deadlock, I must formally declare my position to the national leadership of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the general public.

On rejection of imposition and violation of the APC constitution: “The Constitution of the All Progressives Congress is explicit regarding the emergence of candidates: a candidate can only emerge through a voluntary consensus or a democratic primary election.

He noted that the Reality of the Meeting: “The two-day meeting with His Excellency ended in a complete deadlock. No consensus was achieved”.

AGGRAVATION OF AN ALREADY VOLATILE SECURITY SITUATION

“The atmosphere in Magama and Rijau local government areas is currently highly tense following the Governor’s announcement. Imposing a candidate against the popular will of the people and the stakeholders is a dangerous gamble. This decision threatens to break the fragile peace, fracture party cohesion, and further aggravate the security situation by breeding deep resentment, anger, and civil unrest. At a time when leadership should focus on calming nerves and securing lives, we cannot afford to inject political injustice into an already volatile environment.
It is a painful reality that these Local Government Areas are currently bedeviled by severe insecurity. Our people are already living under the heavy burden of fear, displacement, and economic hardship”.

A SOLITARY DEMAND FOR DIRECT PRIMARIES

“In the interest of fairness, justice, and the preservation of peace, I stand firmly by my original prayer made during the stakeholders’ meeting: If a voluntary consensus cannot be reached, the party must return the power to the people.

“I hereby urgently call upon the National Working Committee (NWC) and the State Executive Committee of the APC to: Set aside the unilateral choice of Professor Yakubu Auna. Order the immediate conduct of a Direct Primary Election in the Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency.

“A direct primary will allow card-carrying party members in every ward of Magama and Rijau to democratically choose who represents them. This is the only legitimate pathway to douse the current tension, restore confidence in the party, and ensure that our internal politics do not worsen the security crisis on the ground”.

IN CONCLUSION

“My loyalty to the APC and the administration of Governor Umar Bago remains intact, but my loyalty to the principles of justice, democracy, and the safety of my constituents is absolute. We must not allow the desperation of a few to jeopardize the peace of the majority. Let us go to the polls. Let the card-carrying members of Magama/Rijau decide.

Signed by Shehu Samaila Auna APC Aspirant, Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency.

CC:
The National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC).
The National Working Committee (NWC), APC.
The State Chairman, APC, Niger State Chapter.
The Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS) – For Security Awareness and the all Media Houses.