Loyalists of former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, are claiming they now “hold the ace” following the removal of Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, as the Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
On Monday, Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, assumed the position of APC’s acting National Chairman, after Buni’s ouster, which was reportedly sanctioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In Ogun State, Buni, while leading the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the APC had recognised Yemi Sanusi as the State Chairman of APC, leaving Amosun’s faction which had elected Derin Adebiyi, in distraught.
Our correspondent in Abeokuta reports that Governor Dapo Abiodun and his predecessor, Senator Amosun, who are at the loggerheads over APC’s structure in the state, had last year conducted parallel congresses from wards up to the state levels.
While Abiodun group elected Yemi Sanusi as its Chairman, Amosun’s faction backed Derin Adebiyi as the State Chairman.
Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led 11 man panel was set up by the CECPC of the APC, to look into the crisis in Ogun and other states, was unable to resolve the lingering crisis, but Buni-led CECPC recognised Abiodun group’s congress and presented a certificate to Sanusi.
Reacting to the recognition of Abiodun’s man as State Chairman of APC, Amosun had appreciated his followers for their steadfastness and assured them that “victory is certain.”
“To all our party faithful, Thank you for your steadfastness. We are APC…..APC…..is Ours. The journey continues…..Victory is certain by God’s grace,” Amosun had said, in a terse statement.
But following Buni’s removal, the chairman of Amosun’s faction on Wednesday convoked what was termed “meeting of the extended State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party (APC).”
At the meeting, Adebiyi told the party stakeholders that APC “is now on the right track.”
“We must thank God. Our party is now on the right track. If they tell some people that as at Sunday, they will no longer be in charge of the party, they will dispute it. God has just demonstrated that he is greater than individuals”, Adebiyi said, according to a statement, shared on Thursday morning by the Publicity Secretary of the faction, Wole Elegbede.
According to the statement, Adebiyi declared that as far as Ogun State APC is concerned, the Amosun camp holds the ace, adding “We are the original members of APC. We will not leave this party for anybody. Wherever Senator Amosun goes, we follow him.”
He also charged the faction executive members “not to give room to corrupt and immoral merchants in politics who try to supplant the interest of the party or go about deceiving unsuspecting members for votes.”
“The highly fruitful meeting was fully attended by the State Executives as well as party chairmen and secretaries from the 20 local government areas of the state,” the statement added.
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