The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State, Hon. Mohammed Aliyu Mujaidu, has said preparations have been concluded for the swearing in of councillors elected during the last November election.
The chairman disclosed further that the council chairman, Hon. Danlami Abdullahi Saku, will also be received back by the APC from the SDP.
The party boss stated this when asked by newsmen whether the ceremony will hold over rumours circulating on online news platforms about fears of a possible crisis.
He said there was no truth to the claim that tensions were high in Katcha as himself and the council chairman had a meeting to perfect preparations for the swearing-in ceremony.
He said, "As I was talking to you now, everywhere in Katcha was calm. People were anxious and happy that, at last, the governor, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago, had taken a popular decision that would bring lasting peace to Katcha.
"Let me tell you again that the council chairman who won the election under the SDP has decamped to the APC, and we will formally receive him inshallah. Don't believe anything told by anybody other than the one I just told you ", he said.
Hon. Aliyu Mujaidu said the State Independent Electoral Commission has toed the path of law, and the governor, who is a respecter of the rule of law, has insisted the right thing must be done.
He said there was not an iota of tension in Katcha, pointing out that even the council chairman was reassuring them that he would carry out the directives of the governor. According to him, "please just try and come to Katcha tomorrow and witness the swearing in. Since November, when the election took place, the council has been operating without councillors. Now, by tomorrow, the council will be complete", he said.
The State Independent Electoral Commission had some days ago issued certificates of return to nine APC councillors, whom it said won the last November election. But because of legal and political disagreements, the council chairman was unable to swear them in.