Congress: Showdown imminent in Lagos APC over consensus

There is uneasy calm in the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the forthcoming state congress, Daily Trust can report.

Some aggrieved members are said to be warming up for a showdown over plans by the party leadership to elect new members of the State Working Committee (SWC) through a consensus.

It was learnt yesterday two chieftains of the party have indicated interest to contest for the party’s chairmanship. They are Fouad Oki and Mustapha Dabiri.

Sources within the party told Daily Trust yesterday that the decision of the two chieftains to contest is unsettling the party amidst moves to re-elect the incumbent caretaker committee chairman, Tunde Balogun.

It was gathered that the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision making organ in Lagos APC under the leadership of the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has concluded plans to return Balogun.

But Oki, who is the leader of Lagos APC Democrats, a bloc within the party and even organized parallel congresses during the ward and local government congresses, as well as Dabiri, have vowed to reject the congress.

In an interview with Daily Trust, Oki said the planned consensus was not agreed upon by the generality of members of the party.

He said, “If you are doing consensus, who are you doing consensus with? How many tendencies are in Lagos? You must have sat down with some people, who are the people? Is it the same usual lies?”

According to him, the party leadership in the state has hijacked the officials sent from the national secretariat to sell forms to prospective aspirants.

The state caretaker chairman, Mr. Tunde Balogun, was not available for comment yesterday.

However, he has consistently appealed to the aggrieved members to join hands with the leadership, insisting that they remain members of the party.

Also, the spokesman of the caretaker committee, Seye Oladejo, did not respond to our correspondent’s inquiry, when contacted.