From Sule Aliyu, Bauchi
A leadership crisis has hit the Bauchi State chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) which has led to the suspension of its acting chairman, Alhaji Sani Shehu popularly known as ‘Sanin Malam.’
The party said that the suspension followed what it described as “gross indiscipline and disrespect to the leadership of the party,” as contained in a letter dated July 13th, 2022 and addressed to the suspended acting chairman with copies made available to journalists in the state.
The disclosure was made by the North-East Zonal Secretary of the party, Dr. Babayo Liman, who signed the letter and read it to journalists during a press conference held at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state.
Dr. Liman, who was accompanied by some members of the party, said the zonal office of the party, after reviewing the allegations against the acting chairman, issued him a query which he refused to collect, hence they have no option but to suspend him from office in order to move the party forward.
He warned him to stop parading himself as the acting chairman of the party in the state pending investigations of the allegations against him.
Dr. Liman also read to journalists, that the query was written to the suspended acting chairman, which he claimed, they refused to collect.
He said that sometimes in June 2022, in the presence of the public, the zonal national chairman and zonal national secretary, North East, Shehu Sani challenged and insulted the National Board of Trustee Secretary General, Engr. Buba Galadima in Abuja without any reason.
He added that: “During the Bauchi State NNPP stakeholders meeting with the National Executive, in Abuja, he repeatedly insulted the same Engr. Buba Galadima which resulted in his argument with the National Leader and presidential candidate of our great party, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.”
Meanwhile, the state Working Committee of the party has rejected the suspension of the acting chairman.
Speaking in the state recently at the NUJ secretariat, the state Legal Adviser of the party, Barr. Muhammad Muhammad, stated the action of the zonal secretary was unconstitutional, null and void.
He said: “Liman and his cohorts didn’t follow due process and had no constitutional right to suspend any member of the executive.”
He reaffirmed that Alhaji Shehu remains the chairman of the party in the state.
When contacted, the acting chairman, Alhaji Shehu said he was not aware of his suspension by the party.
