BEVERLY HILLS, June 09, (THEWILL) – The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos has dissolved and banned all political groups within the party in the state.
The decision was made by the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) on Tuesday following what is perceived as a cold war between National Leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.
According to the communiqué issued by the party leaders in the state after the meeting held in Tinubu’s Bourdillon, Lagos residence, groups such as Mandate Group and Justice Group, the two most powerful groups within the party in the state, will no longer exist.
Aregbesola was accused of re-launching political groups in the state without the knowledge of Tinubu and is said to be interested in running for president in 2023, an ambition that may pit him against Tinubu who is also believed to be interested.
In the communiqué signed by 27 party chieftains, the GAC warned that any member of the party that flouts the order will be heavily sanctioned saying: “it was unequivocally resolved that all factions like JG and MG are inimical to party unity and are hereby permanently disbanded and prohibited within the party.
“Party members should no longer make use of these factions or their names with regard to future party business and activities. To continue to hold meetings in the name of these groups or to continue to promote such associations will amount to a violation of this resolution.
“The only permitted use of the names will be limited to historic references. Any violation of this decision is subject to party discipline, including suspension and expulsion. This prohibition extends solely to official party business.
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“We are in no way trying to abridge anyone’s constitutional rights to free speech or assembly. The party chairman is hereby tasked with promulgating more detailed regulations with regard to prohibited and permissible activities for sub-party groupings.
“The party remains supreme. It has developed structures from the ward level to local government and state levels. These are recognized by the party’s constitution. They are adequate platforms for members to congregate and to present their views.
“The APC in Lagos is one party and one family. We must always act in this spirit if we are to attain the dream of democratic prosperity that we set out to achieve. We must do this in honor of June 12 and those who gave of themselves to make democracy our reality.”
Signatories to the communiqué include are Tinubu, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwoolu, his deputy Obafemi Hamzat, former governors, Akinwunmi Ambode and Babatunde Raji Fashola.
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Others are: Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, Henry Oladele Ajomale, Bushura Alebiosu, Abiodun Ogunleye, Murphy Adetoro, James Odunmbaku, Tony Adefuye, S.A. Seriki, Olorunfunmi Bashorun, Rabiu Oluwa, M.A. Taiwo, Mutiu Lawal Are, Yomi Finnih, Muyiwa Sosanya, Tunde Samuel, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Rasak Lanre, Mudashiru Adisa Obasa, Babatunde Balogun, Wale Edun, Ranti Adebule and Kemi Nelson.
No Rift Says Tinubu, Aregbesola
Both Tinubu and Aregbesola have denied any rift between them.
Tinubu’s spokesman, Alhaji Tunde Rahman in a statement, said: “Today, the Governor’s Advisory Council, the highest decision-making body within the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, passed a resolution calling for the disbandment of all factional groups within the party.
“This was to promote discipline, harmony and cohesion and engender party supremacy. The APC is one united political family in Lagos.
“Our attention has, however, been drawn to a report in an online newspaper alleging that the GAC’s appropriate and candid resolution had worsened a phantom cold war between Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
“This is a figment of the imagination of the news organisation that authored the report. Asiwaju Tinubu remains Ogbeni Aregbesola’s leader. The former governor of Osun State has been unswervingly and wholly committed to the progressive ideology of the Tinubu political family.
“There is no war, cold or hot, between them. There has never been and there will never be. Asiwaju believes in him and he believes in the APC leader.
“Our political family remains strong. And we are staying focused in our commitment to building and maintaining a cohesive political party.
“The GAC is a very strong body within the APC leadership structure in Lagos. Its resolution is not targeted at any particular individual or collection of individuals.
“The resolution was to restate the often-stated position that the only group known to us is APC and not any of the factional groups. It was to renew the commitment to APC and its unity.
“Ogbeni Aregbesola is a strong member of the political family. The GAC position does not imply any division within the group. The resolution is well-meaning and should not be misinterpreted.
“To do so impulsively as the authors of the report has done is to take the frontier of reporting away from facts to the realm of groundless speculations.
Aregbesola also debunked claims of nursing a presidential ambition in 2023. He said, “Rift with Asiwaju Tinubu? Nothing can be more impossible.
Nothing can be farther from the truth. I remain committed to my mentor. The group our detractors claim has been banned is the most committed to the realization of Asiwaju’s ambition.
“They even said I have presidential ambition. False.”
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