The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State of sponsoring thugs to pelt President Muhammadu Buhari and other dignitaries during its campaign rally in Abeokuta on Monday, Igbere TV reports.
Igbere TV gathered that the APC said Governor Amosun will pay dearly for his actions after the 2019 polls.
This was as the party asked its supporters to vote for only its candidates, a contradiction of President Buhari’s admonition to them to vote candidates of their choice after the presidential elections.
President Muhammadu Buhari had at the Monday rally, in an apparent attempt to calm frayed nerves, told the supporters at the rally to follow their hearts, saying it was within their democratic rights to so do.
He said: “I advise you to practice your civic right come next Saturday, and on the 2nd of March to choose whoever you like across the parties. This is your right, so there is no problem about it, I have no problem about it, and you shouldn’t have problems about it”, the president had said, deviating from the tradition of canvassing support for all candidates of the party, being its chief campaigner.
However, the party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, differed with him, telling its supporters to vote for “all and only” APC candidates.
The statement reads: “We urge our teeming party supporters and members not to be disturbed by Monday’s condemnable incident. We urge all to continue trooping out enmasse for our remaining campaigns and vote massively for all and only APC candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
“The All Progressives Congress, APC, regrets Monday’s premeditated attacks sponsored by Governor Ibikunle Amosun on President Muhammadu Buhari and other senior party leaders at the venue of the presidential campaign rally in Ogun State.
“The APC will not condone acts of indiscipline, indiscretion and anti-party activities from any party member no matter how highly placed.
“The party will review this gross misconduct of deliberately positioning thugs to attack and embarrass the President and the party’s leadership. The party will take a decision on this matter immediately after the elections.
“It must be stated that party supremacy and discipline, according to our constitution, are not matters of choice but binding principles which must be adhered to by all party members.
“The APC is a party known for discipline, justice, fairness and equality, hence any plan to destroy what this party stands for would be rejected. No single person will be allowed to put his personal and selfish interests ahead of the wishes of the people of Ogun state and elsewhere.
“Postprimaries, the decision of the National Working Committee to uphold the wishes of party members is unbendable. Therefore, whatever means being currently deployed by persons intending to undermine the wishes of the people for personal gains will not be tolerated.”
Meanwhile, the APC in Ogun State has apologised to President Muhammadu Buhari over the violence that marred the presidential rally held on Monday in Abeokuta, in which many members of the party were pelted with stones.
In a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the APC’s Caretaker Committee in the state, Tunde Oladunjoye, “The Ogun State Caretaker Committee led by Chief Yemi Sanusi tenders unreserved apology to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari over the gross misconduct, indiscipline, disrespect and disorder perpetrated by agents of Governor Amosun today at the MKO Abiola Stadium.
“Governor Amosun, using thugs and other urchins wrecked havoc on members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress for wearing yellow vests and caps of Dapo Abiodun.
“The unruly acts, not only embarrassed the President and his entourage, but have actually embarrassed the whole people of Ogun State at home and abroad, who have since been expressing their disbelief and disdain.
“While tendering this apology, we are happy that the Department of State Service and other agencies have details of the sad events, which we urge them to submit to the Presidency.”
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