Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, the Niger State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has stepped down from his position. According to the Daily Trust, he made the statement following an urgent meeting with other state officials of the APC at the Party Secretariat in Minna.
During the media briefing after the meeting, Jikantoro introduced Alhaji Aminu Bobi, the Niger North Vice Chairman, as the Acting Chairman, expressing confidence that his departure would lead to a brighter future for the party in the state.
He emphasized that his decision came after extensive consultations and was aimed at adding value to the party. He believes that he will be able to contribute even more to the party’s progress in the future. He clarified that there is no crisis or conflict involved in his resignation, contrary to what some might assume.
While Jikantoro cited personal reasons for his resignation, insiders informed news reporters that the underlying cause was the longstanding friction between him and Governor Mohammed Bago, particularly during the primaries.
Allegedly, the chairman and the governor had an uneasy relationship due to the internal party crisis that emerged during the 2023 elections. Reports indicate that the governor felt unsupported by the state party chairman during the primaries, leading to strained relations between them.
Moreover, the governor was dissatisfied with the APC Chairman’s congratulatory visit to Mohammed Idris, the ministerial nominee from Niger State, who had been a strong opponent to the incumbent Governor in the 2022 governorship primaries.
The situation in the state APC is already indicating the possibility of a 2027 race, with Malagi emerging as a potential contender against the current governor.
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