Defections: Oyegun Speaks On Warning APC Against Electing Oshiomhole

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has reacted to claims that he warned the party against electing his successor, Adams Oshiomhole.

Recall that the social media was agog with news that Oyegun blamed Oshiomhole for the mass defections which hit the party upon his emergence as chairman.

“When I was called up to handover to Adams Oshiomhole, I pleaded with the leaders of the party to look for someone else even if they don’t want me again. Nobody listened to me. I handed over to him a party fully intact and healthy. Under 4 weeks, Oshiomhole has used his mouth to destroy APC. Who do you blame?” he was quoted to have said

Reacting, the former chairman described the statement credited to him as untrue and false.

The statement issued by his Chief of Staff, Edwin Ikhinmwin, said Oyegun strongly supports efforts being made by Oshiomhole to bring back peace and re-position the party.

The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the immediate-past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and circulating in the social media.

“I have been directed by the former APC National Chairman to state the following:

“Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has not issued any press statement or spoken to the press on the concocted statement credited to him.

“We view this as part of the fake news being disseminated to magnify the ongoing challenges facing the party and create new fissures between the former National Chairman and the incumbent, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to frustrate ongoing reconciliation efforts within our party.

“The former APC National Chairman fully supports all efforts to reconcile and unify the party.

“Oyegun uses this opportunity to call on all party leaders, members and supporters to embrace the ongoing peace talks led by President Muhammadu Buhari and the party’s National Chairman to restore stability within the party, so that we can position our party as a unified and strong political fighting force going into the forthcoming general elections in 2019.”