A chieftain of the Allied People Movement (APM), Muhammed Musa Bagana, has dismissed reports linking him to any faction of the party or any pending appeal at the Supreme Court or other courts in Nigeria over an alleged leadership dispute.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Bagana welcomed the reported defection of Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, and Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State, alongside their supporters, to the APM, describing the move as a major boost for sustainable democracy and development in Nigeria.
According to him, the development has altered the country’s political equation and positioned the APM as a viable platform for future electoral contests and democratic governance.
Bagana alleged that the growing strength of the party had attracted “anti democratic and reactionary forces” seeking to destabilise the APM through fake reports of a faction allegedly led by him as former pioneer chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees.
He stated that although he previously had political disagreements with the APM National Chairman, Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, the issues had long been resolved amicably.
“There is no leadership case in any court in Nigeria between Mohammed Bagana and Yusuf Dantalle,” he said.
Bagana also disowned a statement reportedly issued by one Muhammed Bello on behalf of a purported faction opposing the defection of Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde to the party.
“I don’t know anything about the statement, I did not authorise it and I don’t have any spokesman,” he said, describing the report as fake news orchestrated by mischief makers.
He urged the public to disregard what he described as attempts by political destabilisation agents to create imaginary factions and litigations aimed at discouraging new and intending members from joining the party.
Bagana maintained that the APM remains united under the leadership of Dantalle, adding that the authentic leadership of political parties can be verified on the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).