Politics
OYO LG POLL: APC Warns Members Against Blackmail
THE ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Oyo State on Monday warned its members, particularly aspirants jostling for party tickets in the forthcoming local government council election and their supporters, to desist from any conduct capable of bringing the party into disrepute or cause its leadership to lose focus.
This warning came against the backdrop of a protest staged at the Oke-Ado State Secretariat of the Party by a group of persons believed to be APC members and supporters acting on the suspicion that there were plans to compromise on the choice of conduct of party primaries for many aspirants eyeing chairmanship and councillorship seats of the 33 local government councils and 35 local council development areas of the state in the poll slated for May 12, 2018.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Olawale Sadare, APC and made available to Mega Icon Magazine, described the allegations of planned imposition of candidates as a figment of the imagination of the protesters and their sponsors, urging members of the general public to regard it as cheap blackmail antics employed to cause unnecessary tension in the land.
The statement reads, “we are indeed embarrassed at the level which decorum was thrown into the air by this set of people, some of who we could identify as APC members in the state. Peaceful and purposeful protests are some of the essentials of democracy but when cheap blackmail is involved, it becomes condemnable.
“The allegation of planned imposition of candidates is not only a hoax but also something that should not featured in the present scenario. The state executive committee of the APC led by Chief Akin Oke has earned itself a reputation for upholding the sanctity of internal democracy as enshrined in our party constitution while the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has also demonstrated personal commitment to the ideals of the party.
“In the build to 2015 general election, Oyo APC ranked among the best state party chapters where candidates emerged through transparent, free, fair and credible primaries. Neither the governor nor any other person influenced the choices made by delegates and we have not deviated from this path of rational conduct.
“Meanwhile, the seeming delay in the release of guidelines by the party was caused by the new development explained to all stakeholders by OYSIEC at a meeting last Wednesday when indications emerged that the recent delineation of wards exercise done in the state would be implemented at the May 12 poll.
“The implication is that additional wards have been created but they have not been made public. It then became imperative to wait on OYSIEC which had promised to release the map and necessary documents this week to guide all participating political parties. But as at now (Monday), nothing has been heard from the electoral body.
“It is also important to set the record straight on the issues raised by the protesters. There was never a time we received a protest letter or any other letter from individual or group concerning the need to conduct primaries since we know what to do at a time like this to satisfy all parties without running foul of the constitution of our great Party.
“Lastly, we are appealing to all aspirants and their supporters to desist from acting on unfounded rumours and unsubstantiated allegations coming from fifth columnists as we guarantee the announcement of the guidelines that would usher in free, fair and credible primaries as soon as we get updated by OYSIEC on the issue of ward delineation”, the statement added.
Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has declared his willingness to step aside in the 2027 elections if a stronger candidate emerges to lead the party.
Adebayo made this statement on Sunday during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television, monitored by Mega Icon Magazine.
“Everybody knows that I have an aspiration. I’m working on it, but God is the author of tomorrow; we don’t even know who is going to be around in 2027,” he said.
The lawyer and politician emphasised that his ambition would not stand in the way of a more capable leader who could address Nigeria’s challenges.
“It is my prayer to God that if there is a person who God thinks is better than me to fix the problem of Nigeria, my ambition should not stop that person because we want a country that works. That is the kind of thing we are working on at this time,” he added.
Adebayo assured Nigerians that the SDP would present a candidate worthy of national support, capable of unseating President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election.
He further stressed that the SDP would avoid divisive politics based on religion and ethnicity.
“What used to be an easy discussion – with religion and ethnicity – has become explosive now. So, we will not use the SDP forum to try to bifurcate our people into different zones,” he noted.
According to him, the party aims to produce a candidate whose emergence will be met with widespread approval.
“When we make a choice in the SDP, there will be resounding joy outside the SDP, and Nigerians will say: ‘Okay, finally, this platform has given the country a chance’,” Adebayo said.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Engr Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated the Oyo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Moshood Olayide-Abas on his appointment as the Board Chairman of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Oseni, who also serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), described Olajide’s appointment as a recognition of his dedication to the party and his contributions to its growth in Oyo State.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, the lawmaker commended President Tinubu for considering competent and loyal party members for key federal appointments.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our leader, Prince Abas Olajide on this well-deserved appointment. His leadership and commitment to the APC in Oyo State have been exemplary. I have no doubt that he will bring the same level of dedication to this new role,” Oseni stated.
He also congratulated other notable figures from Oyo State who were appointed to federal boards, urging them to justify the confidence reposed in them by delivering on their mandates.
“This is not just an opportunity but a call to service. I encourage all appointees to work diligently in support of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he added.
Oseni expressed optimism that these appointments would further strengthen governance at the national level and reinforce the APC’s political structure in Oyo State.
Less than a month after former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the party’s North-West leadership has denied that he is a registered member.
In a statement issued in Kaduna, the North-West Assistant Secretary of the SDP, Idris Inuwa, asserted that neither the ward nor the state chapter of the party has any record of El-Rufai’s membership.
“It has come to our notice that certain individuals, including Nasir El-Rufai, are being rumoured to have joined the SDP. However, neither the chairman of Kaduna North Local Government in Kaduna State nor the leadership of Unguwar Sarki ward has any record of these memberships,” he stated.
Inuwa, therefore, urged El-Rufai and other prospective members to follow the proper membership process if they wish to officially join the SDP.
“We advise him and any other interested individuals to adhere to the established procedures for membership registration,” he added.
Furthermore, the North-West Zonal Assistant Secretary rejected the dissolution of the Kaduna State working committee of the SDP by the party’s National Working Committee.
“While we recognise the growing interest of individuals and groups in joining the SDP, we emphasise that there are well-defined guidelines and constitutional provisions governing membership admission. The Kaduna State chapter of SDP remains open to all prospective members who comply with the established procedures,” Inuwa stated.
It will be recalled that El-Rufai resigned his membership of the APC and defected to the SDP on 10 March 2025.
In his resignation statement, El-Rufai cited concerns over what he described as the “capricious trajectory” of the ruling party, which he alleged the leadership had failed to address.
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