Trouble in Adamawa APC over direct primaries as thugs allegedly burn cars, attack Babachir’s office

macfranc007 September 03, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Onyirioha Nnamdi

- There was serious trouble in Adamawa on Sunday, September 2, as thugs reportedly attacked some APC chieftains in the state

- The gang was said to be loyalists to the state governor, Muhammadu Jibrilla, in protest to a faction of the party who are moving for direct primaries

- In reaction to the development, Usman Ibrahim, the spokesman of the faction, said that Governor Jibrilla should put his popularity to test in direct primaries

A set of irate youths believed to be loyalists to Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla on Sunday, September 2, attacked some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa who were making moves for direct primaries in the state, Daily Trust reports.

The thugs chanting “Sai Bindow” allegedly attacked the Yola office of the former secretary to the government, Babachir David Lawal, at a meeting of Dimas Ezra faction, leaving one injured and destroying several cars.

Usman Ibrahim, the group's spokesman, said the group was attacked when its members were perfecting their position in favour of direct primaries as against indirect primaries. Ibrahim said that in response to a notification about the attack, the police command in the state sent an inspection team.

A stakeholder, Ibrahim Waziri, revealed that the head of the thugs had been identified, adding that he believed the hoodlums were Jibrilla's supporters. Waziri challenged the governor to test his popularity in direct primaries.

However, in reaction to this, the special assistant to the governor, Dickson Martins, dismissed the allegations as unfounded, adding that it was aimed at soiling Jibrilla's image.

Martins stated: “It can’t be true. How can a governor send thugs to attack people. The governor is a responsible person, so it is irresponsible to make such allegations against him.”

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The Dimas Ezra faction which enjoyed the support of APC top personalities, including former governor Murtala Nyako, Babachir Lawal and former anti-graft chief, Nuhu Ribadu, had earlier filed a case in court protesting against the congresses.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com reported that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC on Thursday, August 30, adopted the direct primary method for the selection of its presidential candidate, while states would be allowed to choose which of the methods best suits their peculiarities.

NAIJ.com gathered that the party, however, said that states willing to use the direct primary method should write officially to the national secretariat.

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