Crisis has broken out in the All Progressives Congress (APC), with 17
governors plotting to dump National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun.
The governors are said to be angry that Oyegun has been running the party
with only seven of their colleagues.
They may table their grievances at the party’s National Executive
Committee (NEC) meeting on October 31 and pass a vote of no confidence in
Oyegun.
The governors are said to have reached out to President Muhammadu Buhari
on their decision to reject Oyegun’s leadership.
But Oyegun’s supporters have fingered former Edo State Governor Adams
Oshiomhole’s backers as part of the plot.
They said Oshiomhole’s loyalists had been lobbying party leaders ahead of
the NEC meeting to concede the slot to the ex-governor should Oyegun be forced
to step aside.
APC seems set for a “make or break” meeting because of the sharp division
among the governors on Oyegun.
Some of the governors are alleged to have refused to assist the party
because of the national chairman.
A source, who pleaded not to be named, said: “Ahead of the NEC meeting of
APC next week, there is tension in the party. About 17 of the 24 governors are
unhappy with the national chairman. They are plotting to withdraw their support
for him, unless he carries all of them along.”
In Oyegun’s corner are Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna); Abdullahi
Ganduje (Kano); Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi); Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Solomon
Lalong (Plateau); Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).
“The 17 governors believe that Oyegun is romancing their seven colleagues
because the APC National Chairman believes they are close to the President.
“They expressed fears that the party might split the way the National
Chairman was leaving decisions on issues to the ‘anointed’ governors,” the
source added.
Another source said: “Initially, the 17 governors decided to write a
letter to the APC leadership but they shelved the idea because it will appear
as if they are reporting their colleagues.
“They are, however, reaching out to President Buhari but through the back
channels to avoid embarrassing the President during the October 31 NEC meeting.
“They want the President to call the National Chairman to order. They
said if care is not taken, they might be forced to come out openly on their
concern.”
But a member of NEC said: “What you are hearing is a game plan to pass a
vote of no confidence on Oyegun at the NEC meeting.
“The issues the 17 governors are raising are part of the conspiracy
against the National Chairman. And what you are likely to see is the direction
where things will go at the NEC session.
“As regards Oyegun’s preference for some governors, I do not think it is
true. If the chairman has personal relationship with some governors, I think it
is by virtue of their position or performance.
“For instance, the National Chairman does not hide his likeness for
El-Rufai who he describes openly as ‘very energetic and full of ideas’. He is
always proud of the governor of Kebbi and he relates well with Okorocha as the
Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF). He is also used to the
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Abdul-Aziz Yari, to get update
on issues of governance.”
Another NEC source said Oyegun’s camp was already aware of “the plot”.
“In the last few days, strategists of Oshiomhole have been pushing his
candidacy as successor to Oyegun ahead of the NEC meeting.
“But the pro-Oshiomhole governors will fail because by the APC
constitution, only the Deputy National Chairman from the South, Chief Segun
Oni, can succeed Oyegun.”
“The thinking is that Oni could resign at the NEC meeting to contest the
Ekiti State governorship primaries. The APC constitution is silent on who takes
over.
“So, we will be running into a deeper crisis, the source added”
National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi told our correspondent last
night on telephone: “I don’t know the basis for the discontent because the
party’s leaders always meet with the governors every month. And on some
occasions, we had more than 70 to 80 per cent attendance.
“In fact, we met with the governors on Wednesday in Abuja as part of our
monthly session with them. If there is any discontent, such a forum would have
provided an opportunity for them to raise it.”
0 Comments