The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Southwest Nigeria, says it has concluded plans to contest the victory of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the July 16 poll by dragging the Independent National Electoral Commission, the PDP, and its candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke to the Election Petition Tribunal.
The APC Chairman in Osun State, Prince Gboyega Famodun, said this on Thursday at a press conference in Osogbo, the state capital. There he condemned the activities of and the call by The Osun Progressives, TOP, for the party structure in the state to be dissolved.
TOP is a political group loyal to former governor Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Internal Affairs.
INEC had declared Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the gubernatorial election, held on July 16, 2022.
But Famodun told the party members to remain calm, saying there was no cause for alarm, assuring them that APC would reclaim its mandate through legal means.
He said from the opinion of the legal counsels PDP has a very good case at the Tribunal, expressing optimism that the people’s will on the election shall prevail.
PDP counters APC on Tribunal
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the decision of the APC to approach the Election Tribunal as a wasteful voyage and an exercise in futility.
In a statement by its Caretaker Committee, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, PDP condemned the step as anti-people and a challenge of God’s will, stating that the mandate given to the Osun State Governor-elect, Senator Adeleke, by the people of Osun people stays.
He explained that while the PDP was yet to be served with any election petition, Adekunle said neither the party nor the Governor-elect is worried by the alleged petition, saying they adjudged the election which produced the winner to be of global democratic compliance.
Famodun condemns TOP activities
Meanwhile, Famodun has condemned a group of people under the aegis of The Osun Progressives (TOP). He said they have been working at cross-purposes with the corporate ideals and interests of the party in this state.
He alleged that TOP was being funded, coordinated, and directed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who he accused of constituting a clog in the wheel of progress of the party.
“It is no longer news that the group under the patronship of Mr. Aregbesola, a serving Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has its secretariat at the campaign office of the Interior Minister in Osogbo, where its members converge every Thursday to engage in the fierce discussions.
“We know you were all familiar with the copious public outbursts of Aregbesola where he openly campaigned against the re-election of Governor Oyetola.
“You are aware of how all the lieutenants and followers of Aregbesola had been boasting that they would ensure Governor Oyetola would not be re-elected in the last July 16, 2022, governorship election.”
Famodun said Aregbesola and his supporters openly campaigned and subsequently voted against Governor Oyetola in the election, which was part of the reasons for the current plight of the party in the state.
He condemned the protest and the demand of TOP for restructuring the APC by dissolving all the party’s executives from the unit to the state level.
Directing Aregbesola and his group to direct their demand for party restructuring to Senator Adeleke, whom they voted for with flaunted pride.
He stressed that all the executive positions of the APC in Osun at all levels, in line with the party’s constitution, have stipulated tenure, which has been the reason for the smooth-running of our party to date.
Famodun concluded that it’s an aberration for an outsider to canvass or initiate the restructuring of another body, more so when the personality constitutionally recognized to head the affairs of the state, Governor Oyetola had shortly after the governorship election, promised to carry out an effective restructuring and reinvigoration of the party.
S.O
