The bid to remove national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshimohole has suffered a setback as reports according to the Punch indicates that the six southwest governors are divided over the move for his removal.
Some of the governors who wanted the national chairman out of the party’s leadership are said to be dissatisfied with the conduct of the party’s primary elections in their states.
According to the Punch, the governors against Oshiomhole’s removal are the ones in the camp of the party’s national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. They were named as: Akinwunmi Ambode; Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesola; and Oyo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi.
While the news-outlet named Ogun state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu as governors against Oshiomhole.
The report added that the Ogun and ondo state governors are however wooing Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state to their side.
But a source close to Fayemi was reported to have said the former minister did not have issues with the Oshiomole-led national working committee.
“You are aware that there were moves to change from indirect to direct primary when hoodlums hijacked the first process of the APC governorship primary where Fayemi was leading.
“Perhaps, this would have been successfully done if Oshiomhole were to be in office. We know those behind the plot then. The same set of people may have been the ones working against the interest of both Amosun and Akeredolu.
“Don’t forget that Amosun and Akeredolu also played major roles in the campaigns and election of Fayemi. While there were those who merely sang songs at the party’s mega rally where the President was present, these two men campaigned vigorously for the APC and Fayemi. Therefore, the governor might as well consider it immoral to abandon them when they are facing issues in their states,” the source was quoted to have said.
Also, quoting a presidency source, the news outlet reported that it was clear that the issue had divided the governors.
“We all know the position of Governor Amosun and Governor Akeredolu as far as the crisis and the fate of the national chairman is concerned.
“Despite their calls for the removal of the party chairman, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has made his position clear that Oshiomhole goes nowhere. With Tinubu’s position, you will expect naturally that Ambode and Aregbesola won’t join Amosun and Akeredolu in this journey. You also expect Ajimobi not to join the fray.”
