Oyo APC: National Secretariat denies knowledge of Congress in Ibadan 

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mai Bala Buni, has denied knowledge of the controversial congress of the Oyo State APC held, on Saturday, in Ibadan, the state capital.

Investigations at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja revealed that there has been an uneasy calm within the ranks of the party leadership since Saturday when the news of the controversial congress hit the airwaves.

Sources within the secretariat disclosed that Governor Buni was shocked when he learned of the meeting that was held before the congress. Meanwhile, at a meeting with some stakeholders from Oyo State, Governor Buni was said to have expressed surprise that they changed the agreement that the congress should hold on November 6 without his approval.

Other sources disclosed that party officials in the secretariat have also been wondering at the source of the Delegates List primed to be used for the congress as investigations revealed it did not emanate from the quarters in the party secretariat.

A source at the party National Secretariat stated: “Ideally such materials originate from the Office of Director of Organisation. This is not the case, which explains why the list did not carry the certification of the party.”

The source noted that the leadership of the party had invited stakeholders in Oyo State to a meeting in Abuja where the party would chart the way forward in Oyo State and the invitees would receive their invitation on Tuesday night. One of the party leaders in the state confirmed, late Tuesday night, that he had received his own invitation, which was e-signed by the party’s Director of Administration, Abubakar Suleiman, slating a meeting for Thursday, November 4th.

“I am directed by H.E. (Hon.) Mai Mala Buni to invite you to a stakeholders’ meeting at the Party National Secretariat (Buhari House). The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 4th November 2021 at 1 pm prompt. Abubakar Suleiman Director, Administration”, the message reads. It could, however, not be confirmed how many of the party leaders and stakeholders from Oyo State have been invited, but a source assured that all the leaders would get the invitation.

Speaking on the fate of the purported congress held on Saturday, October 30, an official of the party, that spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “There is no dispute over the fate of the congress. The Chairman, Governor Buni, had claimed that he was not aware of the congress. That means before the party, there was no congress in Oyo State on October 30.

“The Chairman was clear when he met some stakeholders from Oyo State that he stands by the November 6 congress date. He agreed with stakeholders from the party who met him on October 21. What this means is that the party is not disturbing itself with the details of what happened in Ibadan last Saturday. It was an exercise in futility, an exercise unknown to the party,” the party official asserted.

Suzan O