Elders and stakeholders in Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday fingered supporters of a governorship aspirant in the state for destroying the billboards of the party’s governorship candidate, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq.
They also frowned at the alleged utterances of Prof Shuaib Abdulraheem and his supporters’ action.
According to them, their attitude was an affront to President Muhammadu Buhari and APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole.
Abdulraheem, an APC governorship aspirant in the state, on Sunday, reportedly claimed he won the party’s primary, despite the President’s and APC national secretariat’s intervention.
Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, APC leader in Kwara North, Senator Ahmed Mohammed, described the action as supportive of the opposition.
Another governorship aspirant, Alhaji Abdulfatai Yahaya Gambari, and representatives of some other aspirants attended the crowded event.
Mohammed said: “It is on record that supporters of Prof Abdulraheem destroyed the billboards of Mallam Abdulrasaq. We view these actions as disrespectful of the party and the President. We call on the state chairman of APC to take disciplinary action against such untoward behaviour as it could be interpreted as supportive of opposition.
“At this critical period, we urged Kwarans to discountenance the distractions and commit themselves to a purposeful and united APC. We need integration and not separation.”
He added that Abdulraheem’s utterances and interaction with reporters last Sunday at the Ilorin International Airport negated the spirt of the Abuja accord with President Buhari and Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Mohammed said: “The action of the engagement (with reporters) did not represent the resolutions of aspirants with Comrade Oshiomhole. It further embarrassed the decent meeting of Kwara APC and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Despite the initial hiccups of the October 6 governorship primary, the exercise went on smoothly and credibly. Finally, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq emerged as the winner and the duly elected party flag bearer of the APC. Some aspirants protested against the result.
“These were properly looked into by the appeal panel, duly constituted by the party. The platform to ventilate grievances dismissed complaints for lack of merit and affirmed Abulrasaq as the candidate of the party for the 2019 governorship election in the state.
“Afterwards, President Buhari hosted a delegation of Kwara APC members with Comrade Oshiomhole, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and all governorship aspirants in attendance. This gesture was appreciated by party men and women across the nation as a demonstration of solidarity with Kwara State chapter of the APC.
“The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq as the APC governorship candidate for Kwara 2019 election. Party members felt relieved by the reach-out of the candidate to each of the aspirants as well as efforts of the party’s leadership to get the party in unison.”
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