The decision of the national
working committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to disqualify
some aspirants loyal to Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, from
participating in the national assembly primaries is causing ripples in the
state.
The NWC screening panel had
screened out aspirants in constituencies where federal lawmakers are party
members.
The committee disqualified Tunji
Abayomi, a human rights activist, and Victor Olabimtan, former speaker of the
state house of assembly, paving way for Ajayi Borofice to contest the
senatorial election for the third time.
Party executives from ward to
state level, cabinet members and groups loyal to Akeredolu have expressed
dissatisfaction over the development.
The governor also met with
President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday.
Akeredolu’s loyalists said the
last-minute disqualification of aspirants who fulfilled all requirements known
to the law is not only illegal but fraudulent.
Earlier on Wednesday, Akeredolu
had accused the NWC of breaching the party’s law.
“Where do they derive powers to
disqualify aspirants duly screened and certified fit to stand for election
under the guise of giving automatic ticket to incumbent senators and reps
members?” he had asked journalists.
“This is a declaration of war
against our party constitution. The decision to rig out our loyal and committed
members from exercising their right after collecting money for nomination form
from them was taken by few individuals.
“Legally, if such a fundamental
decision is to be taking, it would have to be ratified by the national
executive committee (NEC) on behalf of the convention since the convention
cannot be convened now. It is NEC that acts on behalf of the convention. But
from nowhere, a gladiator of illegally took a decision to ban my people from
exercising their rights and they expected me to comply? This action will
certainly boomerang if not addressed.”
Ade Adetimehin, chairman of APC
in Ondo, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the NWC to rescind its decision.
“All we are saying is that APC in
Ondo state does not agree with the position of the NWC. We met here and decide
in favour of indirect primaries as method of selecting our candidates as stated
in our party constitution but NWC overruled us; we complied, now, Abuja is
saying no primaries again, they have imposed people, some of whom are not even
our members in the face of law to fly our ticket. This is unacceptable,” he
said in a statement.
“Let me say very expressly that
we shall wage war against the decision of some few cabal to turn our party to a
rogue party. You cannot encourage people to obtain forms at such extravagant
amount and then overnight tell them they aren’t allowed to contest. On what
ground? This is fraudulent and an act of stealing by tricky.”
A political pressure group,
Change Nigeria Movement (CNM), has also criticised the Adams Oshiomhole-led
executives over the disqualification of some party members.
The group wondered what the
offence of Akeredolu was that some of his men were sent out of the race.
In a statement, Adeniyi Bankole,
national secretary of the group, asked Oshiomole not to run APC like labour
movement.
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com