The National Leader of the All Progressives
Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, has demanded
the removal of the party’s National Chairman, Chief
John Odigie-Oyegun, over what he called the
latter’s anti-democratic handling of the party
affairs.
Tinubu made this demand in a scathing statement
entitled, “Oyegun’s Ondo fraud: The violation of
democracy in the APC,” released by the Tinubu
Media Office on Sunday.
The party leader said the APC’s democratic
credentials had been dealt a big blow by Odigie-
Oyegun’s conduct, especially with his handling of
the outcome of the Ondo State governorship
primary.
He said the APC was a party borne out of the quest
for democratic good governance, arguing that the
ideology was currently under a critical threat by
those who managed to be in the party but were
never part of it.
According to him, from the party’s inception, the
principles of democratic fairness and justice are to
guide the APC’s internal deliberations.
He stressed that the party’s founders realised that
it was only by fair dealing that the party could
remain faithful to the progressive ideals that were
presented to the Nigerian electorate as governing
creed.
“If the party can not justly govern itself, it will find
it difficult to establish and maintain just
government throughout the nation,” he said.
The APC leader stressed that before now, the party
was the embodiment of a democratic promise made
between its members as well as a democratic vow
made to the public.
Tinubu said, “Evidently, some errant members
believe that promises and vows are mere words to
be easily spoken and more easily broken. Chairman
John (Odigie-) Oyegun has breached these good
pledges in a most overt and brazen display.
“In doing so, (Odigie-) Oyegun has dealt a heavy
blow to the very party he professes to lead. It is an
awful parent who suffocates his own child for the
sake of a few naira.
“The party was supposed to buttress the APC
members elected to government at all levels.
Because of (Odigie-) Oyegun’s conduct of our
affairs, the party is rapidly becoming an albatross
to those it is meant to help.”
On the just concluded Ondo State governorship
primaries, Tinubu said, “(Odigie-) Oyegun’s
comportment regarding the Ondo State primary will
become the textbook definition of political
treachery and malfeasance of the basest order.
“In early September, the (Ondo) State primary was
held. A purported winner was named. Having faith
in the ways of the party, Tinubu publicly accepted
what he assumed to be a verdict honestly derived.
“As a democrat, one must face the possibility of
defeat and accept such an outcome with as much
grace as one would embrace victory.”
The APC leader said one of the few bright spots
during the conduct of the primary was the Jigawa
State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, whom
he said chaired the primary convention with
decorum and impartiality. He noted that he
(Abubakar) was unaware that a tampered list had
been slipped into the process.
Tinubu added, “Indeed within hours of the
announcement, news began to filter in that gravely
disturbed me. Credible allegations of fraud troubled
the waters.
“The delegate list had been materially altered by
someone in a strategic position to do so. The
names of over 150 valid delegates were excised to
make room for an equal number of impostors.
“This was not a clerical error. The alteration was
wilfully executed that the primary would be directed
toward a chosen end that bore nothing in common
with the will of most state party members. A
cunning few had tried to deceive many into
believing they were outnumbered.”
The APC national leader narrated details of what
transpired behind closed doors during the NWC
meeting, held to deliberate on the report of the
appeal panel saddled with the responsibility of
handling the appeals.
He accused Odigie-Oyegun of upturning the
decision of the majority who voted in favour of the
cancellation of the primary and the conduct of a
fresh one.
Tinubu stated, “He has shown that he and
democratic fairplay cannot exist in the same party
at the same time.
“If Tinubu is to choose between John (Odigie-)
Oyegun and progress toward a better Nigeria, the
choice has already been made. For those who care
about the party, who care about Nigeria and its
chance for a better tomorrow, now is the time to
stand against this brewing evil before it grows to
encompass all we have built and all we hold dear.”
Attempts to get the reaction of Odigie-Oyegun were
unsuccessful.
He neither picked nor returned several calls made
to his line.
A response to a text message sent to him was still
being awaited as of the time of filing this report.
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