APC Chairmanship Race: Nasarawa Prominent APC Politicians Denounce Salihu Mustapha, Debunk Claim of Support.

Idris Ahmed, Lafia.

Two prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders from Nasarawa state have debunked claims by an aspirant to the position of National Chairman, Salisu Mustapha they are his supporters and even working for him.

In a rebuttal statement signed by Chief Philip Dada, the Ajiyan Karu, a former Secretary to Nasarawa State Government (SSG), and Hon. Usman Boss, a former State legislator, former Commissioner for youth and sports, said that their attention has been drawn to a publication made on the 4th January 2022 by the head of Media office of one of the APC National Chairmanship aspirants, Dapo Okubanjo, initially published on Facebook and subsequently published in some National Dailies and social media platforms.

Read more: Nasarawa Speaker led Assembly Leadership To Al-makura’s Abuja Residence To Pay Homage

The contents of the said publication were a complete misrepresentation of what transpired between Chief Philip Dada former SSG under Sen. Abdullahi Adamu’s Government and a former commissioner in Governor Abdullahi Sule’s Government along with Alhaji Usman Boss former Member State House of Assembly who was also a former commissioner.

The offensive publication claimed that “Dada while throwing his weight behind Mustapha, promised to especially mobilize support among Nasarawa State
statutory delegates.

“As SSG to the former Governor Abdullahi Adamu, I have the backing of my former colleagues in that era and will ensure 100 percent support for your aspiration.

“We see you as the hope of millions of APC members who
are looking forward to a different way of doing things and we are giving you maximum backing even though one of our own is in the race”.

“You are indeed the bridge between the older and younger generation of party members because you have no baggage,
we are willing to take our chance on your candidacy.

“I bring greetings from Nasarawa and am assuring you of former commissioners, special advisers, and the house of assembly members in the Abdullahi Adamu years”.

The two prominent politicians stated in their disclaimer that all the above claims are not only incorrect but do not represent or reflect the true perspective of events.

For clarity the aggrieved politicians gave the true perspective of facts are as follows:

That as the immediate past commissioner and former State House of Assembly member, Alhaji Usman Boss and I were invited for a meeting with APC National Chairmanship Aspirant Salihu Mustapha which we honored.

At the meeting, the Chairmanship aspirant declared his intention to contest for the office of the APC National Chairman and his vision and therefore was inviting us to support his candidacy.

After a general discussion, the meeting concluded with us expressing our gratitude for the consideration and invitation and we agreed to get back to him.

At this juncture, the issue of endorsement or any other commitments did not arise nor was it contemplated.

They equally denied neither granting any interview of any kind to any media person nor did they speak to the head of the Salihu Mustapha Media Office, Dapo Okubanjo.

They stated also that the visit was neither representative of any group or caucus as erroneously ascribed to them in the publication nor did they claim to be representative of any group or caucus.

“We are not only shocked by the turn of events but also embarrassed by the content of the report on our visit which was essentially a listening session.

“We feel it is necessary to state this to put the issues in their correct perspective.” The two renowned APC politicians declared.