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– Aspirants’ supporters declare, mobilise for epic battle during return of nomination forms Monday
– Party rakes in over n3.5b on sale of nomination forms
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By Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Unless the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) promptly takes proactive steps, clear indications show that bloodshed may occur at its national headquarters on Blantyre Street, Wuse II, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja on Monday.
Investigations by the Daily Sun in Abuja have revealed that the looming clash is due to the declaration of hostilities by supporters of the two major contenders for the party’s ticket for the Osun State off-cycle governorship election. Their supporters plan to storm the national secretariat on Monday to beat the deadline for submitting their completed expression of interest and nomination forms.
Tensions have continued to rise throughout the build-up to Osun’s governorship poll scheduled for next year. Key figures like Senator Iyiola Omisore, former National Secretary, and Mr Bola Oyebamiji, former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), are at the heart of the fierce contest, both having picked up nomination forms for the party primary.
Our correspondent observed that both camps’ plans to mobilise hundreds of supporters to the secretariat have only worsened the situation, making it even more precarious.
The increasing anxiety is attributed to the failure of state party leaders to reach a consensus candidate through dialogue, as was attempted in the Ekiti State governorship primary.
A visibly angry member of one of the warring camps criticised the national leadership’s handling, confirming the likelihood of a clash in a confidential conversation with our correspondent:
“It’s unfortunate that the Omisore camp is intent on clashing with Oyebamiji’s on Monday when both are to return their nomination forms. Both camps have already mobilised thugs in their hundreds to destabilise one another.
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“I can tell you that the national leadership, the NWC, has not helped matters by scheduling all aspirants to return their completed forms together. Yes, there are eight aspirants who bought forms, but all know that Oyebamiji and Omisore are the strongest contenders.
“The expectation is that leadership should have put preventive measures in place, because we, Oyebamiji’s supporters, will not sit by while Omisore’s camp tries to intimidate us. We heard they are bringing thugs to the secretariat, and we are mobilising our own. The real problem is the lack of scheduled times for each aspirant, which could have resolved the looming clash.
“It would have been ideal for party leaders to inform aspirants to return forms at different allotted times, but it seems they are either unaware of the growing tension or unsure how to avert it. Our principal is peace-loving and does not need such distractions,” the Oyebamiji supporter said in confidence.
Another supporter at the secretariat also lamented the collapse of peace initiatives intended to trim the number of aspirants, blaming the Omisore camp’s stiff-necked posture.
Significantly, the silence of the national leadership amid divisions among the state party’s leaders has complicated matters.
Efforts by our correspondent to draw the national leadership’s attention to the urgent need for intervention yielded little result, with officials either declining comment or stating that none of the aspirants had officially notified the relevant departments about the tension.
When asked why all the aspirants waited until the deadline to submit forms, an NWC member assured that the situation would be brought under control.
Meanwhile, the ruling party has generated over N3.5 billion through the sale of nomination forms to eight aspirants vying for the governorship ticket. While seven aspirants paid N50 million each, one female—who was granted a fee waiver—paid much less, bringing the total close to N4 billion.
