A former Minister of State for Petroleum, Alhaji Umaru Dembo, may replace Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, the embattled interim chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Kaduna State chapter, North-West Nigeria.

Dembo is tipped to take over from the embattled chairman over alleged high handedness leveled against him by APC lawmakers in Kaduna State and the National Assembly.

The minority leader of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Bala Inusa, who confirmed the move to our reporter in Kaduna on Friday evening, said about 27 stakeholders of the party, including former chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Yaro Coca Cola, endorsed the move.

On whether such development might create faction in the party, he told News Express: “No, it is not intended to create any faction and it will not cause any breakaway of our great party. We are simply trying to streamline and strengthen the party leadership. That is why we suggested Umaru Dembo, a seasoned politician, to take mantle of leadership of the APC in Kaduna state. We also really appreciate Dr. Hakeem s efforts and hope he will support the intended change.”

Dembo, when contacted by our reporter also confirmed the move. “Yes, I have heard of such move,” he said adding: “If that will take the state and indeed the country to success and is the wish of the party, then I have no objection to it.”

However, a former zonal chairman of the CPC and chieftain of the APC said such a move to replace Baba Ahmed will not succeed. “This attempt by these lawmakers led by Sen. Sani Saleh to replace Baba Ahmed with Dembo will not work. It is also not true that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari endorsed it,” he said.

•Photo shows embattled APC Kaduna interim chairman, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed.