*Struggle for control rocks party in Kwara
*PDP aspirant won’t quit for defectors
Senate President Bukola Saraki’s political future is causing ripples in the Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC).
Saraki, who is the leader of the party in the state, is obviously on his way out, following the defection of 13 APC senators to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Saraki is yet to announce his political future, but stakeholders across the state’s three senatorial districts yesterday insisted on the dissolution of the Ishola Balogun-Fulani-led state executive, which is believed to be loyal to the Senate president.
Though the stakeholders recognised the Bashir Bolarinwa faction, they also ordered for its dissolution to allow a level playing field for fresh members of the party.
Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed read the stakeholders resolution in Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area.
The resolution reads: “That Balogun Fulani-led Kwara APC executive committee be immediately dissolved and a fresh congress that will include all Kwara APC members and those who are just coming into the party be held at the various levels to constitute a new executive.
“That all those who got appointments by deceit, hiding under the facade of being party men and women, should immediately resign such appointments or be fired.
“That the recent gale of defections has now put the APC in a position of true majority in the National Assembly, as those who remain are the ones who are truly committed to the ideals of our great Party
“That all members and supporters of our great party restate their unflinching support for President Muhammadu Buhari and assure him of a harvest of votes from Kwara State in the 2019 general election.
“That all members should remain calm because there is no cause for alarm.”
Stakeholders at the meeting include members of the House of Assembly, Prince Saheed Popoola, Bashiir Bolarinwa, APC governorship aspirant from Kwara North Yamman Abdullahi.
But Balogun-Fulani said he remained the party’s chair.
He described the planned dissolution of his exco as null and void.
His statement reads: “That I remain the authentic chairman of APC in Kwara State.
“That my executive committee members were duly elected as APC executives in Kwara State for a period of four years.
“That myself and other members of the Kwara APC executive committee remain members of the party.
“That only last Wednesday, I attended a meeting of APC states chairmen forum in Abuja.
“That we were not aware of any APC stakeholders meeting in Oro, as neither myself as the state party chairman nor our Kwara South Senatorial District chairman, Alhaji Jimoh Balogun, convened or attended the meeting.
“We therefore urge members of our great party and general public to remain calm and discountenance the statement credited to Lai Mohammed.”
Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has told Saraki’s supporters that he is leaving the APC, but he is yet to announce his destination.
But the local PDP is insisting that Saraki should not be allowed to join the party.
A PDP governorship aspirant in Kwara State, Mohammed Ajia, has vowed not to quit the party for defectors ahead of the 2019 elections.
Ajia said he remains committed to the principles and ideals of the party.
His declaration follows the lingering anxiety that the party’s structure might be ceded to leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) upon their defection to the PDP.
This is coming against the backdrop of defection of eight members of the National Assembly from the APC to the PDP. They included two Senators and six members of the House of Representatives.
Ajia addressed reporters while inaugurating a block of seven toilets, motorised borehole and renovated classroom, which he funded at ECWA LGEA Primary School in Ilorin.
He said: “I’m a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); I’m still a member; I have not informed anyone that I have left the party, and you know I have an ambition. Just last week, the timetable for the conduct of primaries was released and forms would start selling from August 1. I can assure you I would pick my form as soon as it is released.” (The Nation)
