Concern citizens of Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency have protested against alleged marginalization of the people in the area in the on-going All Progressive Congress (APC) Congresses in Kaduna State.
According to the leaders in the affected constituency, “we, the stakeholders of the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, wish to express our profound disappointment and concern regarding the apparent marginalization of our constituency in the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) congresses in Kaduna State.”
In a statement by the APC Chieftains, Samaila Leeman and Cafra Casino in Chikun and Kajuru, “despite the significant population and substantial voting potential of Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency, which has consistently demonstrated strong support for the APC and contributed immensely to the party’s electoral successes, it is regrettable that no representative from our constituency has been deemed fit for inclusion in the Kaduna State Organizing Committee.”
” This oversight raises serious questions about the principles of equity, inclusivity, and fair representation that the APC has long championed”, Leeman said.
He remarked that “this we fear may have a negative impact on the fortune of the party subsequently”, pointing out that “while we note with regret that no member of Chikun/Kajuru constituency is represented in the Kaduna State Executive Council, we, at least deserve recognition and active participation in the party’s decision-making processes at the state level, if not at the national level.”
Leeman added, “furthermore, we consider it an aberration that critical stakeholders (former House of Representative Members, several former House of Assembly Members, former Commissioners and Head of Agencies, former Chairmen of Local Government) in Chikun Local Government Area were completely sidelined in the constitution of the local government congress committee and at the Ward levels.”
“In line with established party norms and democratic practices, the highest-ranking political office holder in Local Government Area should have been entrusted with the mandate to organize and oversee the congress. Regrettably, this was not so in Chikun Local Government Area”, he further stressed.
Said he: “this exclusion not only undermines the contributions of dedicated party members but also risks alienating a key segment of the APC’s grassroots base, potentially weakening the party’s cohesion and electoral prospects.”
“We therefore call on the APC national and state leadership to urgently review this situation and take corrective measures to ensure that Chikun/Kajuru constituency is adequately represented in all party structures. Inclusivity is the bedrock of any progressive political movement, and we remain committed to working constructively with the party to uphold these values”, he added.
