Akeredolu, Ondo APC dares Oshiomole over disqualification of NASS aspirants

The decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to allegedly disqualify aspirants loyal to the Governor of Ondo state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu from participating in the National Assembly Primaries scheduled to hold Thursday 4 October across the state is currently causing palpable tension in the state.

The APC had on Monday announced disqualification of a Human Rights Activist and Lawyer, Dr. Tunji Abayomi and former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan from contesting, and declared Professor Robert Ajayi Borofice unopposed to run for third term among others across the state.

Their disqualification has been rejected by party executives in the state level, warning APC national chairman Adams Oshiomole led NWC to be prepared to face consequences if the decision was not reversed.

Akeredolu on Wednesday questioned the APC NWC decision to disqualify aspirations.

“Where do they derive powers to disqualify aspirants duly screened and certified fit to stand for election under the guise of giving automatic ticket to incumbent Senators and Reps members from.”

“This is a declaration of war against our party constitution. The decision to rig out our loyal and committed members from exercising their right after collecting money for nomination form from them was taken by few individuals acting the script of a god father that will soon meet his waterloo.”

The embittered governor explained that “Legally, if such a fundamental decision is to be taking, it would have to be ratified by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on behalf of the convention since the convention cannot be convened now.”

He said the denial of the aspirant’s ambition to contest elective offices was only in the purview of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to decide.

“But from nowhere, a gladiator of illegally took a decision to ban my people from exercising their rights and they expected me to comply? This action will certainly boomerang if not addressed,” Akeredolu said.

APC chairman in Ondo state, Engr Ade Adetimehin said his people have given the NWC of the party 24 hours to withdraw the action or face a never-seen-before mass protest.

“Let me say very expressly that we shall wage war against the decision of some few cabal to turn our party to a rogue party. You cannot encourage people to obtain forms at such extravagant amount and then overnight tell them they aren’t allowed to contest.”

Also, a political pressure group, Change Nigeria Movement (CNM) described the disqualification of all members of the party loyal to Akeredolu from participating in National Assembly primaries as humiliation against a sitting Governor.

The group said Akeredolu deserved some previledge from the party for his commitment to the growth of the APC since it was founded years ago.

“If truly the power of the people is the utmost in a democracy, we can assure Oshiomole that only his people from Edo State would vote for those he has imposed against our people in Ondo State. We declare him a personal-non-grata until he reversed his autocratic decision,” the group said in a statement signed by its national secretary, Comrade Adeniyi Bankole.

Bankole added that Oshiomole’s action against loyal party members is “an antithesis of all tenets known to democratic principles.”

However, it was gathered that the aggrieved APC Governors will meet president Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja to protest the alleged imposition of candidates by Oshiomole.