Abdullahi Abbas, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, has dismissed claims that Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, is a member of the party.
Abbas made the clarification in response to Ata’s recent comments during a BBC Hausa interview.
Ata had warned that he and his supporters would leave the APC if Abbas, or someone like him, were reinstated as the party’s chairman in Kano.
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The minister also suggested that Abbas’ statements and actions contributed to the party’s failure to secure victory in the state, despite a strong performance in the 2023 governorship elections.
In a pointed rebuttal, Abbas accused Ata of undermining the party’s efforts during the 2023 elections. He also disclosed that this issue was raised directly with President Bola Tinubu.
Abdullahi Abbas said, “To us APC members, Yusuf Ata is not a member of the APC. We don’t even know why he was appointed a minister. All over Kano State it was only in his local government we came third during the 2023 election.
“We were not aware that he was being appointed a minister. We told the president that he is not a member of our party. He did anti-party. He is only a local champion.”