Edo State polity and governance have been turbulent in recent years due to Godwin Obaseki’s struggles to get himself off his political godfather who influenced his emergence to power as Governor. Comrade Adams Oshiomole’s stranglehold on Edo politics was very formidable until Obaseki teamed up and made the political coup to undercut Adams Oshiomhole possible with the loyalty of Philip Shuaibu the erstwhile ally of Adams who is himself now in serious trouble with Obaseki.
A house built on deceit is like a house built on quicksand and will never survive the test of strong weather. Edo State is politically unstable at the moment while the outcome of the forthcoming gubernatorial election will be dicey as the state can go to any of the leading political parties come next state elections.
While Edo State is open to any serious party to clinch victory in the next gubernatorial elections in the state, the All Progressives Congress seems to be carried away by the erroneous impression that it is business as usual where imposition is the order of the day and with no repercussions. The shambolic primaries conducted in Edo State and its aftermath even after the second primary which is still being contested by some of the contestants is a lesson to the leadership of the party. This is being closely monitored by the Progressives both at home and in the Diaspora.
It is unfortunate that a ruling party that has been in government for close to 9 years cannot organise a free and fair primaries in only one state without rancour and dispute due to the usual tendencies of selfish imposition and lack of integrity in the process.
APC Diaspora Chapters are monitoring events in Nigeria and would not tolerate any imposition and undue interference in our chapters from Abuja which will put our party in a negative publicity. Many of our chapters had done their congresses witnessed by immediate past administration of Senator Adamu Abdullahi but unfortunately the current National Secretariat seems to be setting a bad precedent of cancelling everything done by previous administration no matter how laudable they are. We in Diaspora will resist any actions that will bring disrepute to our party and its image due to the narrow minded actions of some individuals currently holding positions at the party Secretariat.
Sometimes we wonder if these people are truly working in the best interests of our party or with a hidden agenda to destroy a party that we all suffered to build to this level.
It also appears the NWC has monetised the issue of Diaspora Congresses by taking advantage and asking Diaspora Chapters to pay money into the account of party headquarters in Abuja for the conduct of the Congress which is a clear breach of sections 225 of the Nigeria Constitution and section 85 of the Electoral Act 2022.
“The NWC is only mandated by the Party’s Constitution to *observe* a Diaspora Congress and not to organise it.”
It is instructive to note that the NWC did not consult with the affected Diaspora Chapter before deciding on the issue above as well as the issue of asking delegates to pay money into the Party’s account in Abuja.
If the reason for monetising the Diaspora Congress is a view to offset logistics for such exercise, I recall the APC Canada congress was observed virtually and believe same can be replicated in the UK.
Again, if delegates in Nigeria are not required to pay why are delegates in the UK being asked to pay for such electoral service?
The planned APC UK Congress will determine how far APC will survive in Diaspora as some people at the Secretariat are bent on imposing their selfish interests on the will of party members in Diaspora chapters. We hereby call on the National Chairman of the party to please pay more attention to the happenings in the Diaspora chapters before it is too late.
We hereby call on the leader and President of FRN, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu to come and rescue the party from arrogant individuals controlling the affairs of our party presently.
The National Chairman H.E. Umar Ganduje may not be totally aware of the shenanigans of some of the NWC members who are bent on undermining him and ensure the failure of his tenure.
Being the party in power, we hereby call on the Party’s National Chairman to be guided by the extant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022 regarding external funding for the party to avoid a breach that will bring ridicule to the Party.”
This press release was jointly signed by the Prof. Adesegun Labinjo and Engr. Bola Babarinde, Chairman and General Secretary of All Progressives Congress, Committee of Diaspora Chairmen respectfully.
