Niger: APC chieftains threaten defection over consensus candidacy- Mass defection is looming in Nigeria's ruing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) - The ward and local government congresses of the party has been characterized by controversies - The situation in the Niger state chapter of the party is not different The APC local government area congress in Niger state on Saturday, May 12, suffered a major setback as protesters from various local governments invaded Government House, Minna, condemning the affirmation of candidates by the party. The aggrieved chieftains vowed that if nothing was done, there will be mass exodus from the party by them and their supporters. According to New Telegraph, in some local government areas, there were protests against the affirmation of the executives. The state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello was also not present at the congress at his hometown in Kotangora local government area of the state. The governor was however sighted at the wedding of the son of former Chief Judge of Niger state, Justice Jibrin Ndajiwo. Leader of the protesters, a one-time chairman of Lavun local government council, Mohammed Ibrahim Dakpanchi said “we are here to show the governor our grievances on the congress. All the 12 wards are represented here today. The elders and stakeholders.” He continued: “When ward congress held last, ours was not conducted. We wrote a letter to the governor that we want the congress conducted but we got no response. “The same group of people that did that rubbish last week are there today to repeat the same. People are not interested in the local government chairman of the party, he is a criminal, also is the secretary. “We are not against consensus but if there will be any, the people should be consulted and carried along but we weren’t consulted. Democracy is about consultation and rubbing minds but that wasn’t done.” On his part, a youth and member of the party Mohammed Yakubu, said: “If nothing is done, most of us will go to other party. We are not useless politicians. We must be carried along. “APC will collapse, we have the number, we will leave for other viable parties if these anomalies are not checked.” Meanwhile, a chieftain of the APC, Comrade Timi Frank, has warned his party and President Muhammadu Buhari not to overlook a 7- day ultimatum given by the leader of defunct new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in the ruling party. In a statement sent to Legit.ng on Thursday, May 10, Comrade Frank, a member of the nPDP, said if the letter is not addressed, that will give impression that “we are no longer needed in the APC.” Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje had on Wednesday, May 9 led a delegation on behalf of the nPDP bloc to protest what he described as 'maltreatment and exclusion' of his members in the scheme of things by the leaders of APC. Nigeria is practicing Oligarchy (Nigerian Street Interview) on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Mass defection is looming in Nigeria's ruing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) - The ward and local government congresses of the party has been characterized by controversies - The situation in the Niger state chapter of the party is not different Legit.ng