- A political group on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed shock at a recent decision of the party
- The group known as Change for Real (CFR) is at a loss over athedecision of a screening panel of the party in the Osun West Senatorial race
- The group had campaigned vigorously against warned against imposition of candidates for the by-election
A political group of the ruling APC, CFR has described as shocking revelations coming out of meeting of the party's National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday, June 12.
The group claimed that at the meeting, the national chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun begged the members to compromise the screening and appeal panel's reports that had earlier disqualified Mr. Mudashiru Hussain, from contesting the Osun West Senatorial ticket of the APC.
The screening and appeal panels set up by the party had based their judgement to disqualify Mudashiru on the constitution of the party's law which forbid a serving public official from contesting election of such nature.
But Oyegun reportedly caved into pressure top chieftains of the party in favour of the said Governor Aregbesola's candidate.
CFR accused Chief Oyegun of caving into pressure from APC party big wigs
PAY ATTENTION: Read the best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
A statement signed on Tuesday, June 13 by the national coordinator of the group, Abayomi Oluremi in Abuja, said what is current happening in APC as regard Osun Senatorial re-run “is no more democracy by impunity.”
The group said it reliably gathered from an undisclosed NWC member who attended the meeting how eight out of twelve voted in support of the appeal panel's report but the national chairman allegedly acted contrary to their votes.
The group said: “Our source reliably informed us that Chief Oyegun while begging the NWC members to allow Mr Mudashiru Hussain to contest Tuesday's senatorial ticket in Osun, told them that he was getting serious pressure from the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
“We were shocked to hear that Chief Oyegun for the first time also admitted at the meeting that he betrayed Asiwaju Tinubu and Gov. Aregbesola in the Kogi and Ondo state governorship elections, hence the need to dance to their tune in this Osun senatorial re-run to save his seat as APC national chairman.”
The group called for the reversal of the appeal panel's report, warning that even if Hussain emerge the party's candidate, opposition political parties will definitely take advantage of it and challenge his illegality to contest the poll.
“We are saying that even if the NWC has power to wave its own constitution in favour of Aregbesola's candidate, do they also have power to wave the legal issues that will follow because the said preferred candidate did not swear an affidavit as revealed by the screening and appeal panels?” the group affirmed.
Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke (left) during his last public outing before his death
The group, however, threatened that they will do everything possible to ensure that APC lose the senatorial election if nothing is done to uphold the decisions of the two panels set up by the party.
READ ALSO: Kogi west residents continue recall process for Dino Melaye
NAIJ.com had reported on Monday, June 12 that the group warned against imposition of candidates in the by-election.
“We are using this medium to warn Chief Oyegun not to compromise his position or bow to any form of pressure from Bola Tinubu or Aregbesola against the wish of Osun people.
“We are also calling on the party leadership to immediately give the go ahead for the primaries to hold, as Osun people will never accept any change outside the current position of the screening and the appeal panels that have rejected the candidacy of Mr Mudashiru Hussain,” the CFR warned.
In the video below, NAIJ.com TV asks some Nigerians if they regret their voting choice during the 2015 election.