Two Main Reasons Oshiomhole Sacked Saraki’s Kwara APC Excos

Controversy has trailed Monday’s dissolution of the executive committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State by the party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) had in a resolution jointly signed by its National Chairman and National Secretary, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, dissolved the state’s executive committee following a meeting it held yesterday.

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The NWC indicted the committee for two wrongdoings, first being its alleged participation in an open rally where it called on the President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, to defect from the ruling APC to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The National Working Committee also claimed that the circumstances that led to the election of the leadership of the committee at the recently held congresses were marred with “irregularities”.

The NWC’s resolution reads, “The NWC at its meeting of July 30, 2018, examined the unfolding developments within the party in Kwara State, specifically the irregularities that characterised the conduct and outcome of the congresses that produced the leadership of the party at all levels.”

There are, however, suppositions that the Kwara APC executive committee was dissolved by the NWC mainly because its leadership constitute mostly of Saraki’s loyalists.

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The NWC’s decision to dissolve the committee may have stemmed from speculations that the Senate President may soon dump the ruling APC for the PDP as it may cost the party its chances of retaining power when next state goes for gubernatorial election.

Meanwhile, the factional exco members of the state’s executive committee of the APC have rejected the dissolution by the NWC.

Its factional Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, said in statement on Tuesday that the Oshiomhole-led NWC contravened the law by its actions.

The faction also accused the National Chairman of the “always willing to trample on the rights of other party members” to achieve his personal interests.

It said, “we recall that for many weeks, party members worked assiduously and painstakingly to elect party leadership at the ward, local government and state levels in Kwara State. The party structure was certified as duly elected by the National Working Committee of APC. The duly elected party structure in Kwara State cannot be overthrown or dissolved by an unlawful declaration from Abuja.

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“Considering the inglorious role played by Comrade Adams Oshiomole, he has lost the respect of the leadership and members of APC in the 16 local government areas and 193 wards of Kwara State. He has destroyed his human rights credentials. It is crystal clear the emerging dictator is always willing to trample on the rights of other party members whenever his personal interest is involved.”

He added, “while the party will exercise legal means to protect the constitutional mandates of the party leadership at the ward, local government and state levels, we wish to reaffirm that the Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani-led State Executive Committee remains the only authentic and lawful leadership of APC in Kwara State.

“Despite the distraction from Abuja, the Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani-led State Executive Committee, the party leadership in the 16 local government and 193 wards of Kwara State shall continue to discharge constitutional functions. All members of the APC in Kwara State should remain calm as we devise legal measures to guarantee the protection of their rights.”

But another statement by Oshiomhole’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Simon Ebegbulem, reaffirmed that, “The NWC after a careful and exhaustive deliberation on this and other developments in the state chapter of the party, and pursuant to the provisions of article 13.4 (xvi) and (xvii) of the party’s constitution, invoked its powers as enshrined therein and hereby resolve to dissolve all the party organs from ward, local government and state executive of the party in Kwara State.

“To constitute caretaker committee at all levels of the party organs at ward, local government and state executive committees.

“That Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa shall and is hereby appointed as the chairman of the caretaker committee of the state executive committee of the APC in Kwara State.”

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