The secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State
Council was attacked by political thugs on Sunday.
The thugs injured journalists, vandalised properties and disrupted a press
briefing by some APC chieftains in the state.
The thugs overpowered policemen at the entrance to the NUJ secretariat
where Senators Shehu Sani and Suleiman Hunkuyi kicked against the result
of the party’s delegate election.
The thugs wielding dangerous weapons macheted a cameraman with Liberty
Television, Lawal Muhammed, damaged several cameras and injured two other
reporters.
The thugs also broke doors, windows and damaged chairs and tables at the
secretariat.
The chietains of the All Progressives Congress chased away by the thugs
included House of Representatives members Muhamamed Usman and Musa Soba,
Alhaji Tijjani Ramalan, Alhaji Yaro Makama, Amb. Sule Buba and a former
legislator Alhaji Isa Ashiru.
Trouble started when the Gabassawa Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP
Sadiq Abdullahi allegedly allowed the thugs entrance into the venue.
Meanwhile, the State Police Commissioner, Mr Agyole Abeh who visited the
NUJ secretariat, pledged that the police will apprehend the perpetrators.
According to him, the DPO had briefed him on the incident, claiming that
the thugs had identified themselves as journalists before they were
allowed into the premises.
The Commissioner said that investigation would commence immediately and
those found wanting would be prosecuted.
Earlier, during the press conference, the APC chieftains said they were
protesting what they termed as at ‘selection ‘ of APC delegates in total
disregard of the party’s constitution.
Sen. Hunkuyi who spoke on behalf of the APC leaders said all the
guidelines for the delegates election were breached.
He said that the group had written to the national secretariat of the APC
asking it to set aside the purported delegates election and announce new
date for the exercise.
”Stakeholders were invited on Friday we were there until 7:30 pm in the
evening but the acting chairman and other leaders of the party did not
show up.”
According to the party chieftains, the delegates were allegedly handpicked
at the Government House.
Also speaking, Senator Shehu Sani said they would not accept “any dark
room list” as delegates, stressing that APC was founded on the principle
of justice, progress and unity and must be seeing to go by its principles.
“The leadership of APC in Kaduna would not accept arrogance of power and
dictatorship; this is our state and we are sending this message very clear
to the political adviser and his principal that we will not compromise, we
need free fair and credible election.”
In his reaction, the spokesman of the APC in Kaduna state, Salisu Wusono
claimed that the party’s delegates election was free, credible and fair.
According to him, the election was attended by all party officials at ward
and state level.
Wusono told journalists that the election was conducted based on the
party’s guidelines and was supervised by five officials from the APC
National secretariat.