APC received’t defend members from corruption probe, says nationwide vice chair

The nationwide vice chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress for the North East area, Mustapha Salihu, has dismissed the notion that these becoming a member of his occasion will escape prosecution by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee.

Whereas chatting with journalists at his Yola personal residence on Saturday night time, he mentioned the notion is designed to blackmail the administration of President Bola Tinubu, who, he claimed, has zero tolerance for corruption.

Salihu’s declaration got here two months after the previous Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, labelled APC as a brand new haven for fugitives fleeing from the EFCC.

“It’s my perception that extra patriots will quickly be part of us even because the PDP self-destructs and the APC turns into a haven for EFCC fugitives,” Babachir mentioned.

He accused the APC of being “delusional,” claiming that its solely mantra was to “write election outcomes even earlier than elections start.”

“That is pure delusion as a result of it is not going to occur. Nigerians will again us to frustrate any felony manipulation of the 2027 election outcomes,” Babachir asserted.

Salihu mentioned that anybody with credible data on any APC chieftain concerned in corruption ought to file a petition in opposition to such a member, and the occasion will examine and prosecute the person if discovered responsible.

“Lots of APC chieftains have carried out free cut price, and they’re returning cash. Anybody that stole cash can be prosecuted, even should you be part of APC, as a result of this administration has zero tolerance for corruption, as corruption killed the financial system of the nation,” he mentioned.

Whereas tracing the formation of APC, he disclosed that the occasion was fashioned as a power-seeking coalition to oust former President Goodluck Jonathan from workplace.

“We succeeded, and Jonathan was despatched out of energy. After that, folks with a one-party ideology of policy-seeking coalition stayed on one aspect, and political pirates or buccaneers stayed on the opposite aspect,” Salihu mentioned.

He added, “The facility-seeking coalition is now not in APC as a result of they might not get what they needed, however for almost all, we have been a policy-seeking coalition, so we stay to construct the nation.”

Salihu additional identified that the African Democratic Congress is not going to final after the 2027 common elections as a result of it’s a power-seeking coalition occasion.

“ADC is a power-seeking coalition, so it might not final, as a result of 80 per cent of the those that joined or fused into ADC are presidential candidates.

“They have already got a notion of a Messianic angle, so no person goes to step down or assist one other candidate,” he mentioned.

“This power-seeking coalition is not going to agree, and there’s no compromise amongst them; it’s winners-take-all. Instantly, what they’re on the lookout for doesn’t materialise, they may take off to a different new occasion,” he added.

On the destiny of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri becoming a member of APC, Salihu mentioned that political negotiations aren’t carried out on tv or in newspapers.

“Our job in APC is to woo everybody into the occasion. I can be glad if Fintiri joins my occasion right now. It’s felony and undemocratic to cease anybody from becoming a member of any group of their curiosity.

“If he involves APC, good; but when he doesn’t, I’ll want him nicely. However I cannot want him good luck,” he mentioned.