By Our Correspondent | National News

President Bola Tinubu has summoned about 76 leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, amid growing concerns over internal divisions within the party ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The emergency meeting, which reportedly held late Monday night, followed an intelligence report presented to the President by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, indicating that several APC leaders in Osun were dissatisfied with the running of the party and had allegedly been sidelined in its affairs and campaign activities.

Sources who attended the meeting said Tinubu urged the party leaders to resolve their differences, close ranks and work collectively for the victory of the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

The leaders were reportedly flown to Abuja on chartered aircraft from Ibadan, while some, including former Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative Matters, Babajide Omoworare, travelled from Lagos.

Among those said to have attended were former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Olubunmi Ete; former Osun State House of Assembly Speakers, Mojeed Alabi, Adejare Bello and Wale Afolabi; as well as Shuaib Oyedokun, Poju Odusola, Bode Olanipekun and other prominent party figures.

The APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, was said to have coordinated the meeting after being contacted by the Presidency.

A former local government chairman who attended the meeting said Ribadu’s report warned that discontent among party leaders could affect the APC’s chances in the election if not urgently addressed.

According to him, Tinubu subsequently directed Basiru to bring together party leaders who felt excluded from the party’s activities.

Another participant described the meeting as an opportunity for the affected leaders to openly express their grievances and discuss strategies for securing victory in the election.

The source said the leaders complained about what they described as a lack of inclusiveness in the distribution of federal appointments to Osun indigenes, alleging that many appointments had gone to members of the political camp associated with former Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.

The leaders reportedly expressed concern that the same pattern could continue if the APC wins the governorship election.

The President, according to the source, acknowledged the concerns but urged the leaders not to allow internal disagreements to undermine the party’s electoral prospects.

Tinubu was also said to have reminded the leaders of the APC’s losses in previous elections in Osun, stressing the need for party members to work together.

He reportedly urged them to prioritise the party’s victory and return to the state to mobilise support for Oyebamiji.

Another APC chieftain who attended the meeting described it as productive, saying the participants were satisfied with the President’s response to their concerns.

The source quoted Tinubu as assuring the leaders that there would be opportunities for more Osun indigenes at the federal level, even if existing appointments were exhausted.

He said the President’s message was that the leaders should unite and focus on delivering the state to the APC.

The meeting was confirmed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Osun APC, Kola Olabisi, although he declined to provide further details.

“Yes, I am aware. That is all I can say,” Olabisi said.

A loyalist of Basiru also confirmed the meeting, saying the APC National Secretary facilitated the gathering as part of efforts to resolve grievances within the party and strengthen its campaign ahead of the election.

According to the source, the leaders who attended were considered influential figures who, for various reasons, had become less involved in the party’s activities.

He said Basiru was determined to ensure that the disagreements did not affect the APC’s performance at the polls.

A member of the Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council also confirmed that about 76 party leaders travelled to Abuja to meet Tinubu and said some had already commenced mobilisation for Oyebamiji.

Accord Party Accuses APC of Harbouring Alleged Election Hackers

Meanwhile, the Accord Party in Osun State has accused the APC of allegedly harbouring individuals it described as election hackers at a hotel in Osogbo.

The allegation was contained in a statement signed by the Accord Party state chairman, Victor Akande.

Akande claimed that the alleged hackers were brought from Lagos and Abuja and had established an operational centre in the state capital to compromise the Independent National Electoral Commission’s electronic systems and manipulate election results.

The party called on security agencies to investigate the allegation and urged INEC to strengthen its digital security systems ahead of the election.

However, the Osun APC dismissed the allegation as false and baseless.

Olabisi said the APC had no reason to engage in electoral malpractice, insisting that the party was confident of winning the election through legitimate means.

He urged the Accord Party to report any evidence of alleged hacking activities to the police instead of making what he described as frivolous accusations.

The competing claims come as political parties intensify their campaigns and mobilisation ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.

Source: Punch