The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday in Kaduna quashed the suspension of Senator Shehu Sani by the Kaduna State chapter of the party.
This directive was conveyed by the National Vice-Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, at a reconciliatory meeting held at the party’s North-West zonal office in Kaduna.
Sani is representing Kaduna-Central senatorial district at the National Assembly.
The ward six of Tudun-Wada suspended the senator for what it described as his anti-party stance and the suspension was upheld by the state chapter of the party.
However, in upturning the suspension, the national leadership of the party described the suspension order on Sani as null and void.
According to Abdulkadir, the right procedure was not followed in the suspension of the senator.
Abdulkadir, who was a Minister of Youth Development during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, spoke to journalists at the end of the reconciliation meeting.
He explained that the national body of the party received a letter from the senator’s ward chairman who dissociated himself from the suspension.
Abdulkadir said, “We wish to state here that the purported suspension is invalid and is of no effect. The right procedure was not followed and the national body has received a letter from the ward chairman dissociating himself from the suspension and giving an insight into the matter.”
He said the closed-door meeting was to look at some challenges confronting the party and find solutions to them.
He said the party had not been factionalised in the state.
Abdulkadir maintained that the party would continue to promote understanding among members as a way of moving the party forward.
“As a party, we encourage dialogue and understanding among members as a way forward. We met and we have discussed and I am optimistic that better days await the party in the state,” he said.
Also, a leader of party in the state, Dr. Akeem Baba-Ahmed, also said the party was not factionalised in the state.
Baba-Ahmed stressed the need for adherence to the ideology of the party.
He said, “We are ready and willing to continue to participate in the search for peace. We are not a faction but loyal party members, willing to see our party deliver on its promises.
“We will continue to support our national leadership and Governor Nasir el-Rufai to continue to do the right things. In order to achieve this, we have given our zonal chairman some concrete suggestions that will help address the situation.”
Addressing newsmen, an elated Sani welcomed the position of the national body on his suspension.
The senator maintained that development would further strengthen internal democracy within the party.
He said, “The national body has called for a ceasefire and we will observe it without any violation, the supremacy of the party is sacrosanct.”