While the All Progressives Congress (APC) was holding its National convention at the Eagle Square in Abuja, one of its leaders, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was at a meeting with a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in another location in the federal capital city.
The former Kano Governor is now explaining that he and his supporters kept away to avoid the kind of ugly incidents that led to violence that flared up between factional delegates at the Delta and Imo stands at the convention.
However, Kwankwaso in a statement congratulated new chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, over his election.
The statement reads in full: “The All Progressive Congress (APC) group in Kano which I am opportune to lead will like to congratulate and felicitate with the newly elected Chairman H.E Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his newly elected members of the Executive Council.
“I wish to inform the leadership of the party and the general public that we had wanted to be part of the National Convention but regrettably all the congresses that we conducted at the wards, Local Government Councils and at the State level were not recognized by the outgoing National Executive Council of the party.
“Therefore, I felt that presenting ourselves at such an important event will not be in the overall interest of the entire convention that is assuming we are allowed access into the convention ground.
“Because there are high chances that our presence could create embarrassments and a lot of friction similar or even worse than what occurred in the pavilions of delegations from Imo and Delta States during yesterday’s convention.
“However, as the new EXCO settles to start the efforts of uniting the party we wish you the very best”.