APC Kano Chairman Calls for Unity Amid NERC Confirmation Row
The ongoing controversy over the confirmation of Engineer Abdullahi Garba Ramat as Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has prompted the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, to call for calm among party members.
The dispute erupted following allegations of a $10 million bribery scandal involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin. These claims, which originated from members of the defunct Gawuna Campaign Organisation, have sparked threats of legal action from Senator Jibrin’s supporters.
Adding fuel to the controversy, former Bank of Agriculture Acting Managing Director, Alwan Hassan, publicly criticized the Senate leadership for what he perceives as deliberate delays in Ramat’s confirmation process. Hassan pointed out that despite receiving approval from the Senate Committee on Power, the nomination remains stalled – a situation he argues contradicts President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for power sector reforms.
The allegations faced strong opposition during a Friday press conference in Kano, where Comrade Hafizu Sani Liman, who serves as Convener and Director-General of the Tinubu/Barau Support Groups Coalition, firmly rejected the bribery claims as unfounded attacks on Senator Barau’s reputation.
In his official statement, Chairman Abbas expressed particular concern about the growing divide between Senator Barau’s supporters and those aligned with Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the party’s 2023 governorship candidate, and his running mate, Hon. Murtala Sule Garo.
“This matter falls within the constitutional domain of the Presidency and Senate,” Abbas emphasized in his signed statement. He clarified that while presidential nominations are the executive’s prerogative, the Senate’s role is to conduct proper screening and confirmation procedures according to constitutional requirements.
Abbas highlighted the APC’s historical unity in Kano, cautioning that disagreements over a single appointment should not jeopardize the party’s long-standing cohesion. He called on party members to respect institutional processes and allow proper constitutional procedures to unfold without interference.
The chairman concluded by expressing optimism that both the Presidency and National Assembly would reach a fair and transparent resolution that serves both party and national interests.
Leave a Comment