Tinubu accused
Odigie-Oyegun of colluding with mercenary forces to derail democracy and the
change promised Nigerians.
The National Chairman, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief
John Odigie-Oyegun is fighting back following an allegation by the national
leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that he manipulated the
September 3, 2016 Ondo State governorship primary.
The election produced Chief
Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as the party’s candidate.
Odigie-Oyegun said
yesterday that most of Tinubu’s accusations are untrue.
Tinubu had in a statement
sent out by his media office on Sunday called on the APC chair to resign, among
other things. Odigie-Oyegun said he would meet with President Muhammadu Buhari
before he would fully reply Tinubu.
Tinubu specifically said
the APC chairman connived with some dark forces to rig the delegates’ list used
for the September 3, primary of the party won by Akeredolu. The statement
detailed how Odigie-Oyegun allegedly conspired against the party’s National
Working Committee (NWC), disregarded majority decision on a fresh primary and
sneaked out of a meeting to submit Akeredolu’s name as the APC candidate to the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The NWC, acting on the
recommendations of its Appeals Committee, allegedly voted six to five, in
favour of cancellation of the primary, citing fraud in the delegates
list.“…Odigie-Oyegun has done the irredeemable,” Tinubu said.
Speaking in Benin
yesterday, Odigie-Oyegun said he would not fully respond to the allegations
until after the governorship election in Edo State, even as he explained that
most of the things said against him were not true.
“Asiwaju is a well
respected leader of our party so, I cannot be seen speaking evil against him. I
have to consult properly with other leaders of the party before we make any
definite statement. Again, you know we have a crucial election here in Edo
which is my priority right now.
“We don’t want to lose
focus and I know Asiwaju also want us to win because we all have worked hard
for this. So, maybe after the election, if there is need, I will speak; if
(there is) no need, I will relax. But, all I can say now is that most of the
things said in the papers about me are not true. I have always believed in
internal democracy, that the credibility of primaries must be taken seriously.
“I believe that if
primaries of parties are not credible, it may derail any democracy so, I don’t
play with these things at all. Everybody knows me and I don’t joke with my
credibility and I have tried to maintain it. Like I said, Asiwaju is our leader
and we all hold him in high esteem, so, I will never join issues with him.
“But may be after Edo
elections, after we must have emerged victorious, we may speak on some of the
issues raised. So, there is no problem at all. Edo is the focus for now and as
you know this is my state so it is a very serious election for us. So, I want
to be allowed to remain focus then after the election, we can speak”, he said.
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