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Ward Congress: Protest Hits Osun APC, Gov, Party Chair Accused Of Alleged Hijacking Of Forms

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Our Correspondent, Osogbo

Youths and women under the aegis of Progressive Youth Movement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have accused Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the state and Caretaker Chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun of committing electoral fraud ahead of tomorrow’s ward congress.

The youths who staged a protest on the busy Gbongan-Ibadan road, Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, on Saturday July 30, 2021, alleged that Oyetola and Famodun hijacked the nomination forms brought by some national officials of the APC.

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The Protesters who carried placards with inscriptions as: ‘we want free and fair congress‘; ‘Famodun don’t destroy Osun APC’; ‘Don’t kill the party in Osun’; further alleged that national officials of the party who came to Osogbo, the state capital last week Saturday were camped at a hotel under security surveillance.

READ ALSO: Kwara APC Crisis Deepens As Eleven Lai Mohammed’s Loyalists Suspended

They added that they were barred from relating with any other members of the party in the state.

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Speaking at the secretariat, one of the leaders of the group, Mr Rasheed Raji said: “We are here to protest the electoral fraud being committed by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the APC Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun. The two leaders of the party are clearly killing APC in the State of Osun.

 

The protesters in Osogbo on Saturday

“Our party at the national level sent committee members led by one Abdullahi down to Osun since last week Saturday to begin sales of form and preparation for the congress. But ever since they arrived, the committee members are nowhere to be found, they are not either at the State Party Secretariat or any other place carrying out their national duty.

READ ALSO: Defection: APC Nat’l Chair, Govs Storm Yola, Formally Receive PDP BoT Member

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“Thousands of our members have paid for the nomination forms to participate in the ward congress but were not given form. Only members of Governor Oyetola’s group, IleriOluwa were given form. This is a plan to manipulate the congress. The National Secretariat of our party should know this.”

“We wanted to take our protest to the State Secretariat of our party but the Governor has stationed political thugs there. They planned to attack us and we do not want bloodshed. But our voice will be heard. We don’t want consensus in Osun and the congress committee should be allowed to do its job,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs. Opeyemi Adetipe who condemned what she described as brazen balkanization of the party by Governor Oyetola and Famodun, further accused them of intimidating and harassing members of the party who do not belong to their camp.

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Adetipe said the alleged hijacking of the nomination forms by the duo was an evidence of the politics of division and self destruction being played by both the Governor and the party chairman.

They therefore called on the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) to intervene in the matter and ensure that there is free and fair ward congress in the state.

READ ALSO: Buni-led Committee Summons Lai Mohammed Over Kwara APC Parallel Secretariat

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They further called on national leaders of the party to rescue the soul of Osun APC and its members from Governor Oyetola and Famodun.

“We are supposed to go to the party Secretariat but they have stationed thugs there. The Governor is intimidating every member of the party who does not belong to his group, IleriOluwa,” they lament.

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APC Queries Minister For Insubordination As Fresh Crisis Rocks Party In Kano

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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, for making “unguided” comments capable of provoking misunderstandings and disunity within the party.

In a query letter signed by the Kano State APC Chairman, Prince Abdullahi Abbas, the party threatened disciplinary action against the Minister if he failed to respond to what it considers acts of insubordination.

The letter was copied to the party’s national leadership, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and zonal leaders.

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The letter reads: “The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has observed with concern recent comments you made in the media regarding internal party matters and aspirants.

READ ALSO:APC Explains Suspension Of Senator Gbenga Daniel

“These statements have the tendency to provoke misunderstandings and disunity among members. Issues relating to party affairs fall strictly within the purview of the APC leadership and its designated spokespersons.”

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Abbas added: “You are not assigned any public relations role within the party, and such public comments may be wrongly interpreted as official party positions.

“Although you have the right to support and promote any aspirant of your choice, by virtue of your position as a Minister and member of the Federal Executive Council, you are expected to engage on issues that facilitate the unity of all party members.

“The party has observed that you habitually make uncomplimentary and derogatory public pronouncements. You are hereby warned to restrain from such behavior; failure to do so may compel the party to take further disciplinary action.”

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READ ALSO:Mass Defections: Ndume Predicts Implosion In APC

In response, Minister Ata described the query as baseless, lacking specific accusations, and said he had not received an official copy of the letter, learning of it instead through social media.

He insisted that he possesses the constitutional right to express his opinions freely and would not relinquish that right.

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Ata stated: “I am not aware of any offense or breach of party rules. I believe it is inappropriate for a Minister of the Federal Republic or any party member to first see a letter intended for them on the internet before it is officially delivered.

“The letter does not cite any specific statement, action, or conduct that amounts to wrongdoing. As a Nigerian citizen, I fully reserve the constitutional right to express my personal opinions.

READ ALSO:APC Chieftain Killed In Suspected Zamfara Bandit Attack

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“At no point have I claimed to speak on behalf of the party. Every comment I made was strictly in my personal capacity. I remain firmly committed to the constructive policies and renewed hope agenda of Mr. President.”

The exchange between the party leadership and the Minister has further exposed internal crises within APC in Kano, as various factions jockey for influence ahead of the 2027 general elections. Members of the party are reportedly divided among major power blocs, with some supporting the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, while others back former National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The crisis deepened when some party stakeholders endorsed Ganduje as the state party leader, bypassing Barau, who is the highest-ranking political officer in Kano APC. Although the endorsement was claimed to be unanimous, Barau denied any involvement.

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READ ALSO:VIDEO: It’s Pure Genocide, APC’s Adamu Garba Backs Trump On Killings In Nigeria

Recently, party stalwart Hon. Alwan Hassan accused Barau of obstructing the confirmation of Ramat Garba at the National Assembly for the presidential nomination as head of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Hassan also alleged that Barau orchestrated the removal of former Minister of Housing, Alh. Abdullahi Gwarzo, replacing him with Ata.

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In a counter statement, Muhammad Abubakar, leader of the Coalition Tinubu Support Organization, dismissed Hassan’s claims, accusing him of advancing the interests of certain leaders to tarnish the reputation of the Deputy Senate President.
(GUARDIAN)

 

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APC Explains Suspension Of Senator Gbenga Daniel

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APC Ward 4 in Sagamu says it suspended Senator Gbenga Daniel because he refused to appear and defend himself over allegations of anti-party activities.

Speaking to journalists at the ward office in Sabo, Sagamu, the Ward Secretary, Hon. Oluwole Aduroja, said he spoke for the 19-member executive committee.

He explained that their clarification was necessary after a statement issued by MJS Partners on behalf of Senator Daniel, reacting to a November 17 letter from the APC National Secretariat.

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Aduroja, who stood with the Ward Chairman, Hon. Adebayo Ismail, said the Ward Executive Committee agreed to suspend Senator Daniel because he failed to appear before a panel set up to review petitions against him.

READ ALSO:Why Kwankwaso-Atiku Alliance Can’t Work — APC Chief

The petitions accused him of working against the party.

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He said the problem started during the last general elections, when Senator Daniel “acted in open defiance of the party and engaged in actions inimical to the interest of the APC and its candidates in Ogun State.”

Aduroja added that after the elections, the senator, “attempted to obstruct and frustrate the course of justice during the Election Petition Tribunal sittings through actions and interventions that were directly hostile to the interest of the APC and its candidates.”

‘Deborah Samuel’s murderers remain free’ – US defends designation of Nigeria as CPC
He said these actions remain unchallenged.

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Reacting to the position of the APC National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Bashiru, in the November 17 letter, Aduroja insisted that the APC Constitution allows Executive Committees at all levelsward, local government, state, zonal or national to discipline any member.

READ ALSO:APC Chieftain Killed In Suspected Zamfara Bandit Attack

He said Article 21(5)(vii) gives the National Working Committee the power to suspend members, but does not override the powers of Executive Committees at other levels, and does not require them to seek approval from the NWC.

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He explained that “any disciplinary action taken by an Executive Council, including suspension, is subject only to appeal as outlined in Article 21(4).”

He added that nothing in the constitution makes their decision dependent on NWC review.

Aduroja said Ward 4 is committed to discipline, fairness and due process, and stressed that the suspension of Senator Gbenga Daniel remains in full effect.”

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Irresponsible Of You To Blame Trump Over Rising Insecurity – ADC Blasts Tinubu’s Govt

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The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has criticised the Federal Government of Nigeria for blaming the wave of attacks, especially in Kebbi and Kwara States on remarks by US President Donald Trump.

Recall that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume on Wednesday, said recent statements by Trump concerning the security situation in Nigeria have emboldened violent groups across the country.

Responding to the SGF, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement said Akume’s comment was an attempt to deflect responsibility.

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READ ALSO:Alleged Christian Genocide: APC Requests To Testify At US Congress

According to him, it is appalling that the APC-led government suggested that insecurity in Nigeria was triggered by a statement made by a foreign president.

The ADC mouthpiece further stated that the claim amounted to a shameful abdication of responsibility and a confirmation that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is overwhelmed by the security crisis.

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He added that Nigerians had endured massacres, mass abductions and attacks on schools and places of worship for years under the APC-led government.

READ ALSO:Trump To Receive Full Menu Of Options To Stop Nigeria Genocide – US Rep, Moore

Abdullahi said the situation has worsened under the current administration because of the government’s failure to respond decisively.

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Deborah Samuel’s murderers remain free’ – US defends designation of Nigeria as CPC
“It is therefore disingenuous to blame one tweet for the state of insecurity in Nigeria,”

“Those killing Nigerians did not need to be instigated by Trump; they were already actively encouraged by a government that consistently fails to act decisively to stop the carnage, a government that is, even after nearly three years in office, still celebrating its electoral victory while the country is turned into a killing field,” he said.

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