By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation and Jide Orintunsin, Abuja

• Confusion over aspirants’ letter demanding postponement

• Party fails to set up convention sub-committees

• State chairmen go underground over moves to replace coordinator

The cloud over the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for February 26 hung still last night with the party’s governors split into two camps.

The issues in contention are whether the convention should proceed as scheduled and which of the six geo-political zones should produce the party’s next national chairman.

Adding to the uncertainties was the emergence of a letter yesterday by some party members seeking offices at the convention to propose the postponement of the meeting.

Some party office holders dissociated themselves from the letter.

It was also gathered that many state chairmen of the party have gone underground to resist an attempt to coerce them to sign a document on convention shift.

This development, sources told The Nation, prompted the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) to conclude plans to replace the Chairman of State APC Chairmen Forum, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori (Borno) with his Taraba State counterpart to force others in line to endorse postponement.

The pro-shift governors are said to have proposed that the CECPC should keep running the affairs of the party until after the conduct of the primaries for the 2023 polls.

The same forces have been trying in the last 72 hours to force the state chairmen of APC chapters to sign a communiqué to demand the postponement of the convention.

Most of the chairmen have gone underground to resist the coercion to sign a document on convention shift.

The governors also remain divided over the zone that will produce the next national chairman of the party.

Although the governors had conceded the slot to the North-Central, some governors reneged and opted to prevail on a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, from the North-East.

Most of the governors have however rejected the Dogara option by insisting on conceding the office to North-Central.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that most members of the Caretaker Committee led by Governor Mai Mala Buni subscribed to the postponement of the convention, but it has been difficult for the committee to table it before the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).

It was learnt that the committee was afraid of a ‘likely revolt’ against the Buni-led committee.

Attempts by some governors to prevail on state APC chairmen to call for the postponement of the convention have also failed.

Most of the party chairmen at the state level are said to have “gone underground.”

Some governors supporting the retention of the Caretaker Committee and the postponement of the convention have not been able to gain the control of the PGF to achieve their aim.

A governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “The battle at hand is for the soul of the party. The CECPC members including Buni are in support of the postponement of the convention. It is emerging to all of us that Buni appears interested in the presidency in 2023.

“Buni’s personal, vaulting ambition is what’s driving him, but he doesn’t know how to even discuss this with us – his supposed allies who put him on the job

“All the governors are opposed to convention shift except Yahaya Bello (Kogi), who is a presidential aspirant, Hope Uzodinma (Imo) and Ben Ayade (Cross River).

“These anti-convention governors cannot constitute themselves into Progressive Governors Forum (PGF). They are in the minority and they don’t even want the same thing.

“One wants to be President, the other (Uzodinma) wants to be vice president to a Northern candidate. What unites them is that they are not keen on the unity of APC but they will eventually lose out.

“We are 22 and they are either three or four. We know the President will go by the position of the majority because he is democratic.

“Up till now, they cannot officially announce a postponement because they know the President’s position. Instead, they are using sleight of hand. They are in charge. If they want a postponement, why hide behind one finger?”

Responding to a question, the governor said Buni and the CECPC were in a fix.

The governor added: “Mai Mala cannot do it (postponement) because he knows the views of the majority of governors including first term governors. They were trying to play a divide and rule card between first and second term governors but we insisted that the right thing must be done.”

A party source claimed that most state APC chairmen have gone underground to avoid being forced to sign any communiqué for the postponement of the convention.

It was also confirmed by another governor that all his colleagues have directed their party chairmen “not to endorse any document on postponement of the convention.”

“I think those who may have signed are those from Taraba, Yobe, Kogi and Imo states. Others have gone underground, having been directed by their governors to ignore convention postponement drive.

“In frustration, the CECPC has concluded plans to replace the Chairman of State APC Chairmen Forum, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori (Borno) with his counterpart from Taraba State, Tukur El-Sudi Ibrahim, to pave the way for the postponement of the convention to March 12 or indefinitely.

“Yet all the state APC chairmen came together to elect their leaders through a democratic process. Why will the CECPC be making moves to remove Dalori if they have nothing to hide?”

Findings confirmed that governors were divided over zoning of the office of the national chairman of APC.

It was gathered that before President Muhammadu Buhari travelled to Brussels, he had built consensus among the governors to concede the office to the North-Central.

Some governors however reneged on the pact by shopping for a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, as the next APC national chairman.

An APC governor simply said: “Mark my words; our next Chairman is from the North-Central.

“Mai Mala should go back home and concentrate on his job as governor.”

Aspirants in letter to CECPC, seek shift of convention

A forum of aspirants for offices at the convention yesterday sparked a fresh confusion in the party when they wrote an open letter to the CECPC to shift the Congress.

The shift, according to them, is for the sake of peace, unity and success of the party in next year’s elections.

In the letter signed by Maxwell Yakubu Gowon, an aspirant for National Youth Leader and Chairman of All Aspirants Forum, and Hon. Mohammed Bala Mohammed, an aspirant for National Secretary who also doubles as Secretary for the Forum, the forum claimed that the Abdullahi Adamu led Reconciliatory Committee failed in its assignment, leaving the party divided down the line.

The forum said the committee “complicated the issues at stake by refusing to look at issues holistically and relied on rumours and hearsays in coming to a conclusion in its report.”

It added: “The implication of the above statement is that those that were meant to be reconciled ended up infuriated by the actions of the reconciliatory committee.

“The signs in this regard are evident for every well-meaning member of the APC to see. But they have elected in their wisdom to downplay these contentious issues in the report submitted.

“This, in our opinion, is a great disservice to your efforts at positioning the APC for electoral success. As you may be aware, the public space has been flooded with narratives that paint the APC as a party of strange bedfellows whose interests are propelled primarily for self-aggrandizement.

“Mr Chairman may wish to critically examine the various agitations in the different states in the country. The feelers are not pleasant, and with the benefit of hindsight, it would indeed spell doom if the party goes ahead with the national convention under such circumstances.

“As a party, we must be mindful of the burden of expectation placed on our shoulders in providing credible leadership to the country.

“Suppose we can’t put our house in order. In that case, we do not have any moral justification for promising the country credible leadership because charity must begin from home.”

Chairmanship aspirants distance themselves from letter

Some national chairmanship aspirants however distanced themselves from the letter.

Contacted on the phone, one of the chairmanship aspirants, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, said: “I am not aware of any forum, neither am I aware of any letter advising the Caretaker Committee Chairman to postpone the convention.”

Also reacting to our correspondent’s enquiry, another chairmanship hopeful, Malam Saliu Mustapha, who spoke through the Media Coordinator of his Campaign Organisation, Dapo Okubanjo, said: “We are not aware of the existence of the so-called All Aspirants Forum headed by an aspirant for the position of National Youth leader. So they can’t claim to be speaking for all aspirants, especially as we have never been invited to any meeting where such a decision was said to have been reached.

“We respect and trust the capacity of the leadership of the party to deal with the issues at stake,” Mustapha maintained.

Chief Sunny Sylvester Moniedafe, another chairmanship aspirant, said:  “While conceding to the fact that we are in a democracy and everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, I make bold to say that problems will always exist and healing them is a process.

“Leadership at all levels is a continuum, and if anyone claims that we must clear everything, reconcile every difference before proceeding, we will be making a big error.

“The idea of continuity is to state all pending issues in your handover note.

“I want to appeal to the Gov Mai Mala Buni led CECPC to have that in their minds and decide on the next line of action which I believe should be by tomorrow evening, Sunday the 20th of February.

“Having said that, we must remember that our word should be our bond; they (CECPC) chose the date of 26th February on their own and should not lose their sense of integrity by doing something that will bring their integrity to question.”

Convention sub-committees yet to be constituted

Members of the party waited in vain again yesterday for the constitution of the sub-committees for the convention.

The Caretaker Committee at its 19th regular meeting of 19th January 2022 had fixed Saturday 19th February for the release of the membership of the sub-committees and their inauguration.

The caretaker committee also fixed the same day as the last day for the submission of nomination forms by all aspirants.

There were no activities suggestive of an upcoming convention at party’s national secretariat in Abuja yesterday.

No member of the Caretaker Committee was even seen at the secretariat.

The Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has broken his silence after losing his ward in the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary to Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

The Nation reports Aregbesola, was absent at his Ifofin Ward 8, Ilesa East Local Government for the exercise on Saturday.

Oyetola won in Aregbesola’s ward with 309 votes against 146 recorded for Moshood Adeoti, the candidate anointed by the Minister.

In a statement by his media’s aide, Sola Fasure, Aregbesola claimed results of the governorship primary were “farcically counted in favour of the Governor.”

He said: “On behalf of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, I will like to thank you most sincerely for heeding the call earlier this morning to participate in our party’s governorship primary and conduct yourselves most peacefully. You adopted a non-violent posture, even in the face of sore provocation.

“You have demonstrated your loyalty to the party and democratic ideals. You have comported yourselves as Omoluabi in the true essence.

“We have received and continue to receive the reports of the shenanigans of the officials who conducted the sham of an election.

“We have been inundated with reports state-wide of how your names were expunged from the party’s voters register, which was not made available until this morning, contrary to the convention of making the list available to the candidates before the election.

“We have heard of how party registration cards were being hawked this morning to the supporters of the state Governor.

We have also received reports of how accreditation was not done at all in many wards and how people without the party identification just participated and queued behind the governor in many polling units.

“We have received the report from our members and independent observers, how government officials and notable supporters of the governor officiated in the election, how votes were farcically counted in favour of the governor and how the votes recorded for him were more than the number of voters accredited ab initio in many units.

“We have heard of the absence of result sheets and other vital documents for recording results and vital data. We note also the absence of INEC officials in most wards, casting serious doubt on the credibility of the election.

“We note with shame and much regret the consternation of local and international observers on what they regard as a travesty of an election.

“I will urge you to maintain your cool and calm. Be not downcast, be not agitated. Hold your head high. We are still receiving and studying all these reports and will take a definitive position on them.

“You are urged not to take laws into your hands. Please leave the rest to the Almighty God and let us explore all peaceful and legal means for addressing the matter in order to obtain justice.

“Please remain committed to peace and the rule of law. Be unflinching in your commitment to the democratic ideals. Democracy is for the long haul.

“As you all know, we never tire and we never give up on the cause we believe in. Be rest assured that victory is ours.”

Osun Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to seek a second term in office.

He polled 222,169 votes to defeat ex-Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Moshood Adeoti and forner Deputy House of Representatives Speaker Lasun Yusuf.

Adeoti, who is backed by former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola scored 12,921 votes to emerge runner-up while Lasun garnered 460 votes.

Chairman Osun APC Primary Electoral Committee, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq declared the result at the end of the exercise.

Oyetola got 15,034 vote at his Boripe local government area against Lasun who scored nil and Adeoti with five votes.

At Iwo Local Government Area where Adeoti hails from, Oyetola garnered 9,432, Lasun polled 1 and Adeoti got 2,543.

Aregbesola, who was absent at his ward, also lost his Ilesha East Local Government Area to Oyetola.

The anointed aspirant of the Minister Adeoti got 483 votes in the council.

Lasun lost his Local Government Area, Irepodun to Oyetola. He got 214 votes against 7,928 of Oyetola while Adeoti polled 732.

After the Returning officers from all the local government areas announced the result accepted by the committee, Oyetola was declared the winner of the election.

The party chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun called for reconciliation among the gladiators that jostle for the ticket.

Reacting to his victory at Government House, Oyetola commended the members for peaceful conducts during the primary.

He said: “Our great party has spoken as a beacon of democracy and strong and united channel of development. With the outcome of today’s contest, we have jointly made a resolve to continue to redefine governance and re-entrench sustainable democracy.

“Today’s victory is made possible by the members of our great party who gave us another opportunity to face the people of Osun to seek re-election. The outcome of this primary election is victory for our party and members who have spoken loudly through their votes.

“It is victory for our people who trooped out in large number during our strategic tour of the State to inform them of our intention to seek a second term.

“It is a restatement of their confidence in our Development Agenda which hope delivered in 2018 and performance sealed in 2022. It is evidence of their belief in sustainable development which we brought into governance and preached every inch of the way.

“I thank you all our party members for your constant support, and especially for speaking eloquently today with your massive votes in favour of our administration’s restoration and consolidation agenda.

“With this primary election now concluded, I invite us all to rededicate ourselves and the party to delivering an overwhelming victory at the gubernatorial polls holding on Saturday, 16th July, 2022.”

He added: “For me, we are all winners. I, therefore, extend my hand of fellowship to the other two aspirants to join me as we prepare for the July election. We are all brothers. Let’s join hands to build the Osun of our dream.

‘Let us close ranks and eschew bitterness in whatever form. Therefore, may I use this opportunity to also ask all our aggrieved members to have a rethink and join hands with us to further strengthen our party and deliver outstanding results at the gubernatorial poll.”

It was Governor Adegboyega Oyetola all the way yesterday as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State handed him a landslide victory in the governorship primary election of the party.

Oyetola, from results in different parts of the state at press time, left Mr. Moshood Adeoti, his closest contestant and the anointed candidate of Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola, in a distant second position while former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr.Lasun Yusuf, came last.

Aregbesola was not even available to cast his vote for Adeoti.

His supporters claimed he was on an official duty and alleged that the election was rigged in favour of the governor.

The minister in a statement last night spoke in the same vein but urged his supporters to remain calm, hold their heads high “and let us explore all peaceful and legal means for addressing the matter in order to obtain justice.”

Oyetola said he did not expect to lose.

Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara State, who headed the APC Panel that conducted the primary election, hailed its peaceful conduct, saying that it was a relief that it all went well despite the picture of war painted ahead of the exercise.

Social media users were unsparing in mocking Aregbesola yesterday as the results of the primaries began to come in.

Adeoti, who was the Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG) during the tenure of Aregbesola, lost by a wide margin to Oyetola in the minister’s Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa East with 146 votes to the governor’s 309.

Oyetola left Adeoti and Yusuf empty handed in his own (governor’s) Ward 001, Iragbiji, garnering 1,612 votes.

He also defeated Yusuf in the former deputy speaker’s ward in Ilobu with 323 votes while Adeoti got 62 and Yusuf 10 votes.

Oyetola’s total votes in Osogbo were 22,265 while Adeoti got 655 and Yusuf 170.

Aregbesola: It was a sham election

Aregbesola who had boasted of victory for his man described the primaries as a sham.

In an open message to his supporters through his media adviser, Sola Fasure, the minister said reports at his disposal on the primaries showed how their (supporters) names were “expunged from the party’s voter register, which was not made available until this morning (Saturday), contrary to the convention of making the list available to the candidates before the election.”

He said the reports also showed how party registration were “being hawked this morning to the supporters of the state governor” and how government functionaries “officiated in the election, how voters were farcically counted in favour of the governor and how the votes recorded for him were more than the number of voters accredited ab initio in many units.”

He said: “We have heard of the absence of result sheets and other vital documents for recording results and vital data. We note also the absence of INEC officials in most wards, casting serious doubt on the credibility of the election.

“We note with shame and much regret the consternation of local and international observers on what they regard as a travesty of an election.”

While urging his supporters to remain calm, Aregbesola said his faction would seek redress legally, restraining them from taking the law into their hands.

“You are urged not to take the law into your hands. Please leave the rest to the Almighty God and let us explore all peaceful and legal means for addressing the matter in order to obtain justice,” he said.

He urged his supporters to maintain their cool and refrain from taking the law into their hands, adding: “Democracy is for the long haul. As you all know, we never tire and we never give up on the cause we believe in.”

Spokesman of his group, Abiodun Agboola, dismissed the primaries as lacking ”credibility and fairness.”

He added: “Verified information from the agents of Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, our governorship aspirant, has it that there are no record and result sheets in any of the 332 wards of the state.

“Loyalists and supporters of Adeoti are being chased and some were brutally attacked in wards where they have a strong presence.

”Oriade, Olorunda, Osogbo, Odo-Otin, Boripe and Ile-Ife are the worst of this act of intimidation and disenfranchisement.

“Where results of the election were announced (not recorded), the figure declared for Oyetola was highly inflated in the affected wards. INEC officials were noticeably absent in most of the wards to monitor the election.

“This is unacceptable. It is a shame that a sitting governor could resort to malpractices in his desperate bid to secure a second term ticket.”

One of the loyalists of Aregbesola at Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesha East, Saheed Adegoke, confirmed to newsmen that the minister was not in town to vote.

“He told us that he had an assignment from the President,” Adegoke said.

Some women supporters of Aregbesola in Oyan, Odo-Otin Local Government Area protested alleged removal of their names from the voters list.

Similarly, complaints were lodged in Osogbo, Olorunda, Ifelodun, Ilesa, Irepodun local government areas.

 Oyetola’s loyalist shot dead

Pandemonium broke out at Ward 6, Odogbo in Atakunmosa East Local Government Area when suspected political thugs shot a loyalist of Governor Oyetola dead during accreditation for the exercise.

The Nation gathered that the thugs arrived at the ward in a vehicle branded with the poster of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Sanya Omirin, and shot one Job Akinola dead.

An eyewitness named David said the police later took the corpse to the Area Commander’s office.

It was gathered that the police at the venue of the primary election engaged the thugs in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat.

However, Mr. Sanya Omirin denied that his campaign bus was used by thugs during the shooting.

He said: “My boys had nothing to do with the killing. They were merely passing through the area. The murder was committed earlier.”

The spokesperson of Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the killing of a party member at Ward 6, Odogbo.

She said: “The killing was due to rival cult clash and the police are investigating the incident.

“One Bode Itapa stormed the APC accreditation at Ward 6, Odogbo, picked up the victim and shot him dead.

“Police intercepted the suspects and engaged them in a shootout. They escaped into the bush with gunshot injuries.

“They abandoned a PDP branded Nisan Hilux with a Sanya Omirin poster.

“The deceased’s body has been deposited at the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa.”

 Oyetola: I expect nothing short of victory

A confident Oyetola told reporters soon after casting his vote yesterday that he expected nothing short of victory in the primaries.

His words: “Let me say that the turnout has been meaningful, and I thank God that we were able to do it peacefully.

“All the members of the party have the opportunity to decide who will carry the flag of the party… I happened to be one of the aspirants as well and I don’t expect anything less.

“I want to appeal to all our people all over the state to please maintain peace. This election process should not be a battlefield. It’s should not be a do or die affair. There should be no violence.

“Let everybody have the opportunity of participating in his choice of who should be the candidate of our party. I think that’s the process and I think it has gone very well contrary to speculations.

“I have called a number of places in the state; I think it’s been peaceful conduct of the process.”

Speaking about the absence of agents of other aspirants in some places, he said: “It is their choice not to be at the ward.

“We had the stakeholders meeting yesterday (Friday), we are all expected to have our agents around here.

“Perhaps for whatever reason, they decided not to be part of it. So I’m not bothered at all.

“I’ll win by the grace of God. I want to appeal to all of us to see this issue as a family affair. It’s APC all through.

“We should brace up for the challenge ahead. We are going to face another party in this campaign we don’t know yet.”

 AbdulRasaq hails peaceful primaries

Chairman of the Primary Electoral Committee and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was all joy that the exercise went without violence as widely feared in the run up to it.

He congratulated party members for making it so.

He said: “Let me congratulate the people of Osun State and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). What is happening here shows that the party is alive and strong. You can see that from the huge turnout.

“If you open the pages of newspapers today (yesterday), what was painted was a picture of war in Osun. But the primary election has been peaceful.

“I congratulate the people of Osun and all the aspirants. They have all done well.”

Omisore to all aspirants: Accept defeat in good faith

A chieftain of the party and former Deputy Governor of the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore, urged aspirants in the primaries to accept the results in good faith.

Omisore, who spoke after voting at his Ife East Moore Ward, Ile-Ife described the exercise as a family affair that was transparent enough “and will satisfy the voters as well.”

Social media users mock Aregbesola

Social media users, especially those of Facebook and Twitter, mocked Aregbesola over the poor showing of his candidate in the primaries, Mr. Moshood Adeoti, and the Minister’s response on the result.

Kabir Azeez Olaitan, responding to Aregbesola’s message to his supporters said: “Walahi, this one na lamentation with hot tears;” while @ogbaraolabode tweeted: Uba no dey get shame.”

Ade Ori Okin said: “Baba Kabiru just ended his political career not only in Osun State but in Nigeria, by himself. Politics is a dirty game. Can you imagine Gboyega Oyetola is now bigger than Aregbe in Osun.”

Sixty years after it was conceptualised, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo opened a strategic bridge linking the riverine Oporoma, headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, in Bayelsa State. The flag-off, which was held at Angiama community, was preceded by a historic drive on the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road, which construction has reached Angiama.

Vice Osinbajo commended Governor Diri for continuing the projects that predated his administration, saying the 36km Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road was significant as it would improve the economy of the people and reduce the incidence of sea piracy. He noted that the partnership between the federal and state governments was working as evidenced in the refund of money spent by the state government on federal roads, assuring that the federal government will continue to support the state to enable it meet its developmental aspirations.

Prof. Osinbajo said the rural communities in Southern Ijaw were hosts to the nation’s oil and gas wealth and therefore deserved developmental projects such as the historic road. He said no inclusive prosperity can thrive without linking communities by road and charged the people of Southern Ijaw to take ownership of the project. He also called on people of the state to support the Governor Diri administration to enable it deliver on its mandate.

Read Also: PHOTOS: Osinbajo opens Southern-Ijaw link bridge 60 years after

He expressed the optimism that the project would be completed by the governor and urged him to continue to serve the people of the state diligently. He said: “Let me thank my brother, Governor Diri, for inviting me to be part of the second anniversary celebrations and the traditional rulers for the title conferred on me. I also bring you warm greetings from President (Muhammadu) Buhari. I am, of course, very excited to join you for this project. Driving through the road, I appreciate the wonderful gift that nature has bestowed on the state.

“There will be no inclusive prosperity without linking communities by road. So this project is very important. We must commend our dear brother, Governor Diri and his team for continuing with this project that has been on the drawing board for over 60 years. The partnership between the federal and state government is working as evidenced in the refund of money used by the state for federal roads. I assure you of the support of the federal government and that you have not been forgotten. Once more, I congratulate Governor Diri and the beneficiary communities.”

In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri described the flag off of the link bridge as significant to the people of Southern Ijaw. Describing the project as a Trunk A federal road, he expressed the readiness of the state government to partner the federal government to ensure the speedy completion of the project. While commending the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) for doing a good job so far, Diri directed the Ministry of Finance and its Works and Infrastructure counterpart to release not less than 70 per cent of the contract sum to the firm to enhance its job.

The state’s helmsman thanked the Vice President for finding time out of his right schedule to flag off the project and described him as a lover of the state and a friend of the Niger Delta. He said: “That we are here today is the culmination of the collective prayers, resoluteness and singlemindedness of the people of Bayelsa State and a demonstration of the fact that determination and perseverance can make the most unlikely dream come true. Thank you for joining us to change the trajectory of development of Bayelsa State.”

By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation and Jide Orintunsin, Abuja

• Preparation on hold at party secretariat

• March 12 likely as new date

• Fresh search for party chair targets Yakubu Dogara

Some governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have launched an underground move to shift next Saturday’s national convention of the party.

The aim is to buy time with a view to perfecting their strategy to install a candidate of their choice as the next national chairman of the party.

The governors are already mounting pressure on state chairmen of the party to push for the shift agenda, The Nation gathered last night.

Preparation for the convention is already on hold at Buhari House, the APC national secretariat.

However, the cash-for-postponement plan appears to be unattractive to the state chairmen, many of whom are unwilling to play ball, sources said.

It was also learnt that some APC governors have extended their search for a new national chairman to a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

The Dogara project unfolded on Thursday night.

Some of those pushing the Dogara agenda, it was gathered, want the APC presidential ticket to go to the North-Central in 2023 instead of the chairmanship.

It was gathered that some other pro-Dogara supporters are determined to frustrate some chairmanship aspirants from the North-Central.

All the governors, party leaders and stakeholders were awaiting the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from Belgium last night to take a final decision on the convention and the choice of a new national chairman.

Before Buhari jetted out to Brussels for the EU-AU Summit, there was a consensus on ceding the slot to the North-Central.

Going by the plans of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), APC ought to release the list of sub-committees for the convention today.

But investigation in Abuja revealed that some governors were still plotting the retention of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led CECPC to conduct 2023 election primaries of the party at all levels.

The affected governors are understood to have infiltrated the rank of the state chairmen of the party to push for the postponement of the convention.

Sources said some of the governors were dangling cash at the state chairmen to have a deal on the postponement of the convention based on the following grounds:

“No time and resources for the chairmen to take over their new offices and settle down to work.

“No time for pre-convention consultations at the state level

“State branches still dealing with multiple petitions, complaints and court actions

“Lack of funds and allied logistics to mobilise and cater for APC members from the 36 states and the FCT at the convention in Abuja.

A top source said: “State chairmen are under pressure from some governors to prevail on CECPC to shift the convention.

“They have been mandated to raise four demands which the Caretaker Committee will take to the President.

“The demands are suspected to have been prepared by one of the governors.

“Some of these governors have allegedly dangled cash at state chairmen in order to sign a communiqué of a meeting which they never held.

“They have been pleading with state chairmen to agree to approach and persuade CECPC to postpone the Convention from the earlier date of 26th February, 2022 till a convenient date which may be determined by the Caretaker Committee.

“But most state chairmen have been avoiding the governors behind the convention postponement agenda because it is against the directive President Muhammadu Buhari gave before he travelled to Brussels.

“The state chairmen became suspicious of the affected governors because they have not secured the buy-in of most members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

“When some of them called their governors, they claimed that they were not aware of any decision to shift the convention.”

Some of the state chairmen confirmed the plot to shift the convention.

A source said: “We have not met as a body but they are mounting pressure on us to claim that we met on Thursday and demanded the postponement of the convention.

“Those governors behind this latest plot have been restless. It is quite unfortunate. They are even trying to teach us what to say to justify it.”

Authoritative party sources confirmed yesterday that some governors had extended their search for a new national chairman to former House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

A highly-placed source said: “A governor from North-Central and some CECPC members have suddenly come up with the Dogara card for the national chairman.

“They are opting for the North-East in order to disrupt the previous permutations and consensus for North-Central.

“Some of those behind Dogara agitation are doing so as part of calculations for 2023 presidential election.

“They said they prefer presidency for North-Central to the office of national chairman.

“We are all looking forward to the President for direction.

“We don’t know whether or not he will support the postponement of the national convention.”

Preparation for convention on hold at APC secretariat

The uncertainties surrounding the February 26 date were underlined by a slow-down in the preparation for the convention at the party’s national secretariat yesterday.

The CECPC and the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) also appeared to have put their preparations in connection with the convention on hold while they wait to hear from Buhari on the next line of action.

Some party members were also doubtful last night about the inauguration of the convention’s sub-committees originally scheduled for today.

Secretary of the CECPC, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, at the end of committee’s 19th regular meeting last month, had announced February 19 as date for the release of names of various sub-committees for the convention.

Suspicion about the reality of February 26 began to grow on Monday when CECPC failed to begin the sale of nomination forms to aspirants for the various National Working Committee (NWC) positions.

The situation was not helped by the last-minute cancellation of a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC governors on the convention on Tuesday.

A source at the party secretariat said the caretaker committee, the governors and other party members are awaiting the return of the President today.

“Nothing seems to be happening in the true sense, though high wired consultations and negotiations are taking place by those who want the convention and those scheming for shifting of the convention,” a source said.

“The Belgium trip by the President has stalled plans for the convention.

“Some of the governors and caretaker committee have cashed in on the trip to perfect their plans for the shift of the convention, while those who are bent on having the convention as scheduled are equally prepared to convince the President when he returns.

“The truth is that nothing will happen in the party about the convention until the President returns to the country from his Belgium trip.”

A source said the President, on his return, would meet with the governors and caretaker committee members tonight, while the Mai Mala Buni-led CECPC will meet tomorrow.

A close associate of one of the northern governors told The Nation that the governors are now pushing for the second week in March for the convention.

“The CECPC and some governors have prepared a template for March 12,” the source said.

He added: “They intend to sell this new date to Mr President on Saturday night. They are equally going to hinge their request for the new date on the need to raise the N5 billion budget for the convention.

“Though the President is not disposed to any shift of convention date, the reality on the ground is that the February 26 date is no longer feasible and the need for a new date.”

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State said in an interview on Wednesday that there was nothing sacrosanct about the February 26 date for the convention.

“If there is a need for a little shift then it is allowed, particularly when it is within the ambit of the law,” he said.

He added: “But as of today, I have no indication that it will happen. But the President will return and address this.”

Other issues which he said the President would address on his return from Brussels are zoning and the crises rocking the party.

A meeting between Buhari and APC governors on the convention was called off at the last minute on Tuesday following the inability of the governors to reach a consensus on the next national chairman of the party.

• Oba raises the alarm over arms stockpiling ahead of race

• Oyetola, Adeoti, Lasun in three-horse race

• Panel promises level playing ground

Security personnel comprising soldiers, policemen and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday stormed the roads of Osogbo in a show of force ahead of today’s governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State.

Another team of armed security personnel took up positions in and around the state secretariat of the party. They had on standby an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).

Locked in the race for the APC ticket are the incumbent governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola; a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr.Moshood Adeoti and a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Lasun Yusuf.

As security was being beefed up across the state, the Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Makama, raised the alarm about the infiltration of his community by non-state actors who, according to him, were stockpiling arms and ammunition at the behest of some politicians.

Osogbo, the state capital in particular has recorded some shootings and intimidation of residents by suspected thugs in the last few days, raising tension ahead of the primaries.

The situation is not helped by the war of words between supporters of the governor and those of Adeoti who is being backed by Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola.

The armed security personnel were sighted in operational vehicles at about 8pm yesterday patrolling the streets of Osogbo ostensibly to warn trouble makers to keep the peace.

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, said the police were fully ready to ensure there would be no security breach today.

She said: “Preparation for the APC primary election is intact. We have more men now. I won’t say the actual number of those deployed. By God’s grace, we have mounted checks in all the boundaries to the state. We are ready for the task.”

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state said in a separate statement by its spokesperson, Olabisi Atanda, that the Commandant, Emmanuel Ocheja, had ordered a full-scale covert operation to check any act of criminality by hoodlums, thugs and miscreants.

She said this followed “insinuations and allegations in some quarters that some nefarious elements have stockpiled the uniforms of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Correctional Service with the intent of distributing them to non-state actors for use during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship primary elections.”

APC panel meets aspirants

The APC Primary Electoral Committee led by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrasak yesterday met with the three governorship aspirants at the party’s secretariat on Gbogan Road, Osogbo, pledging to provide a level playing ground for all the contestants.

“This committee is promising you that the process will be a free, fair, credible and acceptable poll,” Abdulrasak said.

He added: “Since yesterday, we have communicated necessary information to all the aspirants and that was done through SMS, WhatsApp and other means, and all the aspirants have shown willingness to come and they were informed to come with 10 supporters and their agents in the 332 Wards.

“We came here in peace. Our party is peaceful and we are going to do everything to ensure that peace is maintained throughout the entire process. Fairness, equity, justice, credibility and peace are our watchwords.

“I want you all to come out peacefully and in large numbers to vote for your preferred aspirant. What we are looking for is peace and I can assure you that we will leave no stone unturned to ensure a peaceful, free and fair exercise.

“To us as a committee, peace, love, unity and oneness are our watchwords. Let’s be our brother’s keepers. What we should be celebrating are peace, love and oneness, and as we are moving into the field, we should go in peace. We are here to do justice to all aspirants.”

Secretary of the committee, Senator Julius Ucha, said direct primary would be adopted today.

Speaking on the modalities, he said: “Accreditation will commence by 8 am and end at noon, while voting will start at noon and end at 2 pm or two hours after the end of accreditation.

“The primary will be through Option A4 also known as direct primary, where members will be expected to queue behind their choice aspirant or his posters.”

Responding, Adeoti asked for a copy of party members register to be used for the primary election and a copy of the guidelines for the exercise.

He was then given a copy which he certified.

The leader of the pro-Aregbesola group – The Osun Progressives (TOP) – Lowo Adebiyi, alleged that the returning officers for the exercise were political appointees of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

The Primary Electoral Committee, Senator Ucha, said the claim was untrue as the returning officers were appointed by the national secretariat of the APC.

Lasun Yusuf said: “I have no comment.”

Governor Oyetola pleaded with his co-aspirants and party members to see the contest as a family affair to deepen democracy.

Oyetola said adequate security had been put in place to ensure that the exercise was hitch-free and produce the candidate of the majority members of the party.

Adeoti and Yusuf accepted Prince Gboyega Famodun as the APC chairman in the state.

They had hitherto refused to recognise him and the results of the congresses at every level.

Also at yesterday’s meeting were other members of the panel: Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, Abdulkarim Abdulraman, Wale Raji, Mrs Yetunde Imolehin and Ofonmbuk Okon Bassy.

Adeoti kicks over appointment of Kwara Gov as panel chair

Earlier yesterday, Adeoti protested the appointment of Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasak as chairman of the Osun APC Primary Electoral Committee.

The former SSG also alleged that the primary had been skewed in favour of Governor Oyetola.

The governor, he said, “has influenced the committee led by Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrazak Abdulramon because of his membership of National Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party.”

Adeoti claimed that the primary election was originally slated for March 5 but was brought forward to favour Oyetola.

However, he said, “despite the anomalies, I and my supporters are going to participate in the primary election tomorrow. We are not going to boycott. I want to urge all APC members to go to their collation centres in their various wards to vote for me.

Similarly, a member of TOP, Hon. Rasaq Salinsile, accused Governor Oyetola of importing thugs into the state for the primary.

Politicians are stockpiling arms, says Olowu

Following the violence in his domain, the Olowu of Kuta, Osun State, Oba Adekunle Makama, has alleged the infiltration of the state by non-state actors stockpiling arms and ammunition at the behest of some politicians.

The traditional ruler in a statement yesterday said he was disturbed by the activities of such people who want to perpetrate violence.

“The member representing Ayedire federal constituency in the House of Representatives and party executives in the local government were having a sensitization programme when some hoodlums, wielding dangerous weapons, started shooting sporadically into the defenceless people without any provocation,” he said.

Don’t mind naysayers, you have been chosen to rule Osun for second term – Ataoja, Olobu tell Oyetola

The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, and the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan, have reiterated their support for Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, saying they are resolute to work for his success in the forthcoming governorship election.

The monarchs showered encomiums and prayers on the Governor for his modest achievements in the last three years, just as they assured him of their royal backing before, during and after the July 16 governorship election in the state.

They spoke when the governor visited their domains during the last leg of his engagement tour of the nine federal constituencies on Thursday night.

Receiving the Governor in his palace, the Ataoja described him as a promise keeper.

The revered traditional ruler said the Governor has performed excellently well and the time has come for the people of Osogbo and the entire state to reciprocate the good gesture.

“You are doing well for all the four towns in Osogbo Traditional Council. I have been sent to commend you for all you have been doing to transform the state and give Osun a new development facelift,” he said.

“You have been doing well. You were part of the previous administration where Osogbo was progressing. Our thought was that it would end there when the former administration came to an end. But when you came on board, the progress was marvelous.

“For whatever reason, we will not leave you. We shall continue to be with you.

“We know you are not a noise maker but a great doer, a performer and a reformer whose passion for the people’s welfare is second to none. You have indeed written your name in the sands of time and your imprints will continue to live forever after your eight years in office.

In the same vein, Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan, described the achievements of Oyetola as unprecedented in the history of the state.

Oba Olaniyan, who implored the governor to remain steadfast and not be distracted, said: “We are solidly behind you and we are ready to mobilise our subjects to re-elect you.

“I greet you and welcome you warmly into Olobu’s palace. You have never disappointed me and the entire traditional rulers in the state.

“Coming to my palace is just a necessity to fulfill all righteousness. Otherwise, you know that we are for you and for your government.

“We are aware of the happenings around, particularly within the political class. But we are firm and resolute in God because we know that your ambition is God’s promise.

“I urge you to continue your good works. All that has been happening is just for you to know God the more. He knows us beyond our imagination.

“You will continue to rise. You will get there. You will win by the grace of God.”

Suspected political thugs attack Osun govt’s bus, driver injured

Some suspected political thugs last night attacked a bus owned by the Osun State Government at Owode-Ede, Osun State.

The Nation gathered that the hoodlums, on sighting the bus along Gbongan/Osogbo Road around 9 pm, decided to give it a chase.

They later caught up with the vehicle with registration number 52C-09 OS, carrying the inscription ‘Ruwesa Osun Govt’.

They shattered its windscreen and the two side mirrors. The door of the vehicle was also damaged.

An eyewitness who gave his name as Ola said: “The thugs were armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons. They injured the driver who was all alone in the vehicle.

“They apparently thought the bus was carrying politicians.

“The driver has been taken to the hospital because he was severely injured.”