By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA – ‘Suspended’ Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Comrade Timi Frank has slammed the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun led National Working Committee NWC of the party for its loss of the Osun West senatorial seat to the Peoples Democratic Party PDP last Saturday.
Briefing journalists Monday in Abuja, Frank also enjoined the Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello to stop the moves to recall Sen. Dino Melaye, saying if anyone should be recalled in the party, it must be its national chairman.
APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Acting National Publicity Secretary Comrade Timi Frank
He said; “I expect Oyegun to have resigned by now after the defeat of the APC in the Osun West Senatorial election, but I know that he will not. Oyegun caused our defeat in the election because of his failure as a leader. (Ademola) Adeleke left the APC for the PDP because of the inconsistency of the party leadership and came back to defeat the party.
If they knew what they were doing, Adeleke would not have left the APC and we would have been celebrating another victory now. The APC ticket would have been given to him because of the death of his brother. It has happened before because when Okadigbo died, his seat was given to his wife. Some of us actually suggested that the ticket be given to him.
Unfortunately, the APC candidate was disqualified by both the screening and appeals committee set up by the party for not resigning his position as a commissioner in the state. But the party rejected their report and went ahead to clear him. Oyegun’s illegality brought us to this level. It is a shame on the APC to lose that bye election in a state where it has a sitting governor. If Oyegun fails to resign, APC will continue to face defeat under his leadership”.
On the chances of the party ahead of future elections, Frank said, “with the manner in which we are going now, I do not see victory for us in 2019”.
The APC chieftain said the failure of leadership is responsible for the crisis in the APC in Kogi and other states, saying, “if there is anybody that should be recalled in our party, it is Oyegun and not Dino. Whether we like it or not, Dino is a great asset to our party. He is one of the best senators in our party.
“Ag. President Osinbajo should immediately direct the party leadership to call an emergency stakeholders meeting to resolve this crisis rocking the party. The party cannot continue to impose candidates on the people.
We must not repeat the mistakes of the PDP. As it stands today, APC is the biggest enemy of itself. We have crisis at all levels of the party. Instead of the crisis being resolved, it is getting worse and spreading by the day.
The party needs to restructure and restrategize if it wants to survive. The party has held meetings only twice since it came into government and yet we want to win elections in 2019. How can we win election like that? How are we sure that we will not be kicked out of government in 2019 because we have not been able to keep to our promise. Oyegun’s leadership is very unserious. APC governors need to lead the way to restructure the party”, he added.
