Caption: Deputy Governor, Borno State, Zannah Mustapha

The Borno State deputy governor, Zannah Mustapha, has denied having any rift with Governor Kashim Shettima over the leadership of the All Progressive Congress, APC in the state.

Mustapha denied the alleged rift, news of which had been making the rounds in Maiduguri, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Biu, Mustapha Aliyu, in his palace on Saturday.

He said it was not true that he had teamed up with former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, to take over the control of APC in the state.

The Deputy Governor said the rumoured disagreement with his boss was the handiwork of mischief makers.

“In my opinion, Governor Kashim Shettima remains the leader of the APC in Borno. I want to say without fear of contradiction that Governor Shettima is the only APC leader in Borno. We are 100 per cent behind him”.

Mustapha said he was in Biu, headquarters of Biu local government council to register in the ongoing APC membership registration and urged his supporters to ensure that they were also registered.

He said despite challenges of insecurity, the governor has delivered on his campaign promises in the areas of building houses, roads, health centers, job creation and tireless efforts in restoring peace.

According to him, the APC remains the credible alternative party in Nigeria and called on his people to obtain their membership card in order to be fully recognized as members of the party.

Mustapha told the Emir that thenparty’s registration in the state has been successful.

“Your royal highness, we are witnessing impressive turnout of people across the 27 local government areas for registration, in fact, the cards have finished in some places but the exercise will continue and everybody will get his card,” he said.

In his response, the monarch urged politicians to shun violence, stressing that the essence of politics is to provide services to the electorates.