By Awwal Umar Kontagora The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Niger State has suspended its Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mohammed A...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Niger State has suspended its Deputy
Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Auta, over alleged misconduct and false
claims of assuming the position of acting state chairman of the party.
The suspension was ratified by party leaders in
Igwa/Gwada Ward, who convened an emergency meeting to address what they
described as an attempt to create division within the party. A 15-member
committee has been constituted to investigate the matter thoroughly.
The controversy arose after Auta reportedly
organized a youth rally during which he declared himself the acting chairman of
the party in Niger State — a position party leaders say he was neither elected
nor appointed to occupy.
Speaking to journalists, Malam Tanko Galadima,
Chairman of the party in Igwa/Gwada Ward — which is also Auta’s constituency —
stated that he had no knowledge of any removal of the substantive chairman,
Alhaji Musa Hassan.
“To the best of my knowledge, Alhaji Musa
Hassan has not been removed as chairman, and no formal communication was made
about appointing Mohammed Auta to lead the party,” Galadima said.
“When the issue came to our attention, we convened an emergency ward meeting in
line with the party’s constitution to prevent unnecessary division. The ward unanimously
agreed on his suspension and subsequently escalated the matter to the
appropriate party organs.”
Galadima further disclosed that the case had
been taken to court to ensure it was addressed within legal frameworks, and
that Auta had been barred from all party activities pending the outcome of the
investigation.
Also speaking, Abdulmumin Dantata Ibeto, ADC
Chairman for Niger North Senatorial Zone, confirmed the formation of the
15-member investigative committee, emphasizing that disciplinary actions would
be based on the committee’s findings.
“We have set up a committee to look into the
matter. If Mohammed Auta is found guilty of breaching party protocol and
attempting to destabilize the party, he will be expelled,” Ibeto said.
He reaffirmed that Auta was only appointed
Deputy Public Relations Officer in 2022 and questioned the legitimacy of his
self-proclaimed interim leadership.
Ibeto also dismissed claims that the state
leadership of the ADC had changed, stressing that Alhaji Musa Hassan remains the
only recognized chairman of the party in Niger State.
“There is no crisis in our leadership
structure. Alhaji Musa Hassan is currently driving major development projects
for the party and recently met with the acting National Chairman, Senator David
Mark,” he said.
“All national-level stakeholder meetings have been convened through Musa
Hassan. We don’t know where the claim of his suspension is coming from.”
He added that even the party’s coalition
partners, including former Minister Hon. Abubakar Bawa Bwari, had not raised
any concerns about Musa Hassan’s leadership and have pledged continued support
for the party ahead of upcoming elections.
The crucial meeting, which ratified Auta’s
suspension and established the investigative committee, was held at the ADC
State Secretariat in Maitumbi, along the 3rd Arm Zone Road. It was attended by
party executives from all three senatorial zones of the state — Niger North,
Niger South, and Niger Central — along with local government representatives.
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