A coalition of eight political parties in Zamfara has alleged that the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has no legitimate leadership in the state.

The coalition’s state chairman, Alhaji Adamu Haruna, said this at a press briefing in Gusau on Saturday.

Mr Haruna, who is also the state chairman of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), listed the coalition’s parties as YPP, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Action Peoples Party (APP).

Others, according to him, are Labour Party (LP), Action Alliance (AA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Action Congress (AAC) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

He insisted that the group of political parties parading themselves as IPAC’s leadership in the state lacked legitimacy.

“On behalf of the coalition of G8 political parties, we want to make it clear to the general public that the election which produced the leadership of IPAC in Zamfara was not lawful.

“In fact, it was unconstitutional. We are not part of the political parties claiming to be the leaders of IPAC in the state.

“Any activity conducted by the leaders of the political parties is not done under the council because the council currently has no leadership,” Mr Haruna said.

He expressed dismay over a recent press conference organised by leaders of some political parties who are parading themselves as IPAC leaders in the state.

“In fact, the legitimacy of the so-called state leadership of IPAC is in question as the election was conducted in an undemocratic manner.

“This resulted in a petition, and our group is awaiting a response from the headquarters of IPAC in Abuja.

“We want to make it categorically clear that the eight political parties that constitute part of IPAC are not aware of the conference,” he said.

According to him, the coalition therefore condemns the act and totally dissociates itself from the recent press conference “which holds no objective and reason”.

Mr Haruna insisted that all issues raised by the conveners of the conference were borne out of malice and could be attributed to the state or federal government.

“They decided to condemn the state and federal governments out of selfish intention.

“We are surprised that certain individuals would come under the umbrella of IPAC to condemn the state government when we all know that IPAC is an advisory body established to coordinate the activities of all political parties operating in the state.

“It is therefore against the laid-down rules of IPAC to condemn any government, but to ensure that parties build their internal democracy,” he said.

Reacting to the claims, the state IPAC chairman, Sulaiman Bungudu, denied the allegations.

Mr Bungudu said the election that produced IPAC’s current state leadership was legitimate and lawful.

“I want to make it clear that our election was conducted by the national representative from IPAC headquarters, Abuja, under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The election was also supervised by security agencies, the media and other stakeholders.

“I am therefore calling on the G8 coalition to come and join hands with us to holistically contribute to the success of democracy,” Mr Bungudu said.

(NAN)