Welcomes Bala Mohammed, Seyi Makinde’s Defection, Says APM United Under Dantalle
By Yahaya Idris
The erstwhile pioneer Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Mohammed Musa Bagana, has dismissed reports of a purported faction within the party, describing them as fake news allegedly designed to destabilise the party.
Bagana also denied authorising a statement credited to one Muhammed Bello, who reportedly claimed to be spokesman of a faction allegedly led by him.
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In a disclaimer issued on the matter, Bagana said there was no faction in APM and no pending appeal before the Supreme Court or any other court in Nigeria concerning the leadership of the party.
‘I Don’t Know the Purported Spokesman’
Bagana said he was shocked to read the statement allegedly signed by Muhammed Bello, stressing that he neither authorised the statement nor appointed anybody as his spokesman.
He said: “I don’t know anything about the statement, I did not authorise it and don’t have any spokesman.”
According to him, the purported statement linking him to a faction of APM was the handiwork of mischief makers seeking to create confusion within the party.
He urged members of the public to disregard the statement and other reports suggesting that there is a leadership crisis within APM.
Bagana: No Leadership Dispute With Dantalle
The former APM BoT chairman acknowledged that he once had a political disagreement with the party’s National Chairman, Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle.
However, Bagana said the disagreement had long been resolved amicably, stressing that there was no leadership dispute between him and Dantalle before any court in the country.
“Although I once had a political disagreement with the APM National Chairman, Dr Yusuf Dantalle, that misunderstanding had long been amicably resolved, settled and reconciled.
“There is no leadership case in any court in Nigeria between Mohammed Bagana and Yusuf Dantalle,” he said.
‘No APM Appeal Pending in Supreme Court’
Bagana further dismissed claims that there was an appeal pending before the Supreme Court or any other court over the leadership of APM.
He maintained that the party remained united under the leadership of Dantalle.
“There is no faction in the Allied People’s Movement (APM) and no pending appeal in the Supreme Court or any court in Nigeria on leadership dispute in the party,” he stated.
Welcomes Bala Mohammed, Makinde’s Defection
Bagana also welcomed the reported defection of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to APM, describing the development as a major boost to the party.
He said the governors’ decision, alongside their supporters, would strengthen APM and contribute to the quest for sustainable democracy and development in Nigeria.
“I welcome the defection of the Bauchi State Governor, His Excellency Bala Mohammed, and the Oyo State Governor, His Excellency Seyi Makinde and their supporters to APM.
“Their defection to APM is a giant step forward in the quest for sustainable democracy and development in Nigeria,” Bagana said.
‘Defection Has Changed Political Equation’
According to Bagana, the entry of the two governors has altered the political equation in the country and positioned APM as a platform capable of attracting major political actors ahead of future elections.
He said the development had apparently attracted attempts by what he described as “anti-democratic and reactionary forces” to cause division within the party through what he termed fabricated reports.
‘Fake Faction Created to Discourage New Members’
Bagana alleged that those behind the purported factional claims were attempting to create an imaginary leadership crisis and litigation in order to discourage new members from joining the party.
“Their mission is well known to all discerning citizens — create imaginary faction and litigation to discourage new members and scare away intending ones from joining the party,” he said.
He urged Nigerians and APM supporters to verify claims concerning the party’s leadership through official channels rather than relying on unverified statements circulating in the media.
‘APM Is United Under Dantalle’
Bagana reaffirmed that APM remained united under the leadership of Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle.
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He also pointed to the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a platform where members of the public could verify the authentic leadership of registered political parties.
“I therefore disclaim the statement aligning me to a faction of APM. It is not true,” Bagana declared.