Senator Ishaku Abbo may be expelled from the ruling All Progressives Congress over his fierce opposition of the party’s presidential Muslim-Muslim ticket. Loyalists of vice presidential candidate Kashim Shettima are said to be the masterminds behind the plot, Peoples Gazette has learnt.

Saidu Naira, ex-officio and ex-financial secretary of Adamawa APC, has been accused of coordinating the plot alongside Mohammed Abdullahi, the state APC publicity secretary; Mustapha Ribadu, state organising secretary; and Jafar Haske, member of the House of Representatives from Adamawa. 

Mr Naira has been accused of mobilising party members to expel Mr Abbo, on the grounds of anti-party activities, considering the senator’s vocal outbursts against the same-faith ticket and his resignation from a support group that favours Bola Tinubu.

Confirming the conspiracy to oust him, Mr Abbo said Mr Shettima, former Borno governor and Mr Tinubu’s running mate, had shelled out funds to incentivise his expulsion.

“I am told that the masquerade from Borno is being scammed of millions of naira by a few jobless people who promised him that they will expel me from APC,” the senator said on Facebook.

Mr Abbo in May emerged the APC’s senatorial candidate for Adamawa North but his political fate remains unclear should the plotters succeed in expelling him from the party.

Mr Abdullahi did not immediately return calls seeking comments on the matter. Messages were left for Messrs Ribadu and Haske.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal and legislator Yakubu Dogara who share similar hankerings for religious balance in the ruling party presidential ticket have viciously stood against the Muslim-Muslim ticket, describing it as a “calculated anti-Christian exclusion agenda.” 

The trio have publicly expressed their willingness to sabotage the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“This is truly a wake-up call for all Nigerian Christians. We didn’t start this religious politics; APC and its candidates did; so, all of us should take note and act as appropriate,” Mr Lawal had addressed attendees of APC Northern Christian Leaders Summit in Abuja last month.

Mr Abbo was elected senator as a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in 2019. He abandoned the party in November 2020 and picked up membership of the ruling APC.

His expulsion could cost the ruling party the Senate seat for Adamawa North due to the complications involved in choosing a new candidate after primaries. Mr Abbo’s Christian-dominated constituents could also see his ouster from the APC as a persecution and further isolate the party along religious sentiments.