Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the leader of a factional group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has explained his absence at the APC convention on Saturday in Abuja. He and his team stayed away to avert trouble at the convention.

Recall that factions of the party from Imo and Delta states clashed at the arena of the convention resulting to fisticuffs and raw fight in the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party.

Below is the statement issued by Kwankwaso himself on Sunday.

The All Progressive  Congress (APC) group in Kano which I am opportune to lead will like to congratulate and felicitate with the newly elected Chairman H.E Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his newly elected members of the Executive Council.

2. I wish to inform the leadership of the party and the general public that we had wanted to be part of the National Convention but regrettably all the congresses that we conducted at the wards, Local Government Councils and at the State level were not recognized by the outgoing National Executive Council of the party.
3. Therefore, I felt that presenting ourselves at such an important event will not be in the overall interest of the entire convention that is assuming we are allowed access into the convention ground.
4. Because there are high chances that our presence could create embarrassments and a lot of friction similar or even worse than what occurred in the pavilions of delegations from Imo and Delta States during yesterday’s convention. However, as the new EXCO settles to start the efforts of uniting the party we wish you the very best.

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Former Kano Governor and Defence Minister