- Seventeen governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress are currently conspiring to remove John Odigie-Oyegun as national chairman of the ruling party
- The governors have reportedly reached out to President Muhammadu Buhari over the fact that they are angry that Oyegun has run the party with only seven of their colleagues whom he believes are close to the president
- Oyegun’s supporters however claim that henchmen of ex-governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomole, are planning to install him (Oshiomole) in Oyegun’s place
- The 17 governors are plotting to withdraw their support for Oyegun, unless he carries all of them along; and are reportedly planning to make their move at the party’s upcoming NEC meeting
The All Progressives Congress is currently engulfed in a crisis as 17 governors are allegedly plotting the removal of the party’s national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, The Nation reports.
The governors are reportedly upset that the party chairman has been running its affairs with only seven of their colleagues; and may pass a vote of no confidence on Oyegun at the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting coming up on October 31.
A former governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomole, has been fingered by Oyegun’s supporters as the man behind the plot to remove Oyegun.
Oyegun’s supporters claim that ahead of the NEC meeting, Oshiomole’s men have been lobbying party chiefs to install the former governor in the event that Oyegun is indeed pushed aside.
To buttress their point further, the aggrieved governors are said to have gone as far as reaching out to President Muhammadu Buhari.
A source who spoke on the condition of anonymity reportedly stated: “Ahead of the NEC meeting of APC next week, there is tension in the party.
“About 17 of the 24 governors are unhappy with the national chairman. They are plotting to withdraw their support for him, unless he carries all of them along.
“In Oyegun’s corner are Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi); Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Solomon Lalong (Plateau); Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).
“The 17 governors believe that Oyegun is romancing their seven colleagues because the APC national chairman believes they are close to the president.
“They expressed fears that the party might split the way the National Chairman was leaving decisions on issues to the ‘anointed’ governors.”
Another source reportedly stated: “Initially, the 17 governors decided to write a letter to the APC leadership but they shelved the idea because it will appear as if they are reporting their colleagues.
“They are, however, reaching out to President Buhari; but through the back channels to avoid embarrassing the president during the October 31 NEC meeting.
“They want the president to call the national chairman to order. They said if care is not taken, they might be forced to come out openly on their concern."
Another source disclosed that Oyegun’s camp was aware of Oshiomole’s maneuverings, stating: “In the last few days, strategists of Oshiomhole have been pushing his candidacy as successor to Oyegun ahead of the NEC meeting.
“But the pro-Oshiomhole governors will fail because by the APC constitution, only the deputy national chairman can come from the South.
“Chief Segun Oni can succeed Oyegun.
“The thinking is that Oni could resign at the NEC meeting to contest the Ekiti State governorship primaries. The APC constitution is silent on who takes over.
“So, we will be running into a deeper crisis.”
However, in a telephone conversation, Bolaji Abdullahi, the APC national publicity secretary stated that he had no knowledge about why the governors were angry at Oyegun.
He stated: “I don’t know the basis for the discontent because the party’s leaders always meet with the governors every month. And on some occasions, we had more than 70 to 80 per cent attendance.
“In fact, we met with the governors on Wednesday in Abuja as part of our monthly session with them. If there is any discontent, such a forum would have provided an opportunity for them to raise it.”
