By Akinwale Kasali

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has rescheduled  its planned National Convention from Saturday, February 26th, 2022, to March 12, 2022.

The Governor Mai Buni led APC Caretaker Committee  announced that the earlier scheduled date for Sale of Interest Forms for respective positions was to start on February 14th, 2022.

The rescheduling of the Congress did not quite come as a surprise. A few days ago, Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari said that there was no plan to reschedule the convention billed for February 26, but that “the date may changed if the party thinks it is necessary.”

An APC chieftain, Hassan Alwan, while speaking on Arise Television a couple of days ago, had said there were signs that there will be no Convention as scheduled. He dismissed the party as a fast dying party and said that if the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, was a serious Party, it would since have sent the APC packing.

Hassan said the Governors do not want the Convention to hold. His words: “I am saying that the party has been hijacked by some evil forces among us, and they intend to abort the Convention.

“For God’s sake, this is 10 days to the Convention, where are the sub- Committees? They said they would start selling forms on February 14, that they will start selling tickets, dud they do that? They gave us a Valentine gift that was a lie. They are not sincere. They are not sincere, they are not willing to put up a Convention. Buni and his Committee have failed.

But  according to Uzodimma,  Nigerians should focus on how democracy can become “workable”, adding that citizens should support the government in power.

“That is the decision of the party and there is nothing wrong even if it doesn’t hold. What is important is that we must have our convention.

“We have said it’s 26th. If for any reason tomorrow, it’s not doable in the opinion of the party, we will move. But that does not mean that there is any intention to move.

“We shouldn’t worry about little issues. I think our focus and attention should be towards having a workable democracy in Nigeria like we have shown, supporting government policies and programmes and then being patriotic”

By Ayodele Oni

Like a typical defeated Nigerian politician, former Governor of Osun state, Rauf Aregbesola, reacted to the outcome of Saturday’s Governorship primary election by describing it as a sham.

During the exercise, the Minister of Interior, who had for days running, campaigned in all zones of the State, asking members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to troop out and vote for his preferred candidate, Moshood Adeoti, was nowhere to be seen, or found. He disappeared. And did not vote.

In his ward, Adeoti was roundly defeated by Governor Gboyega Adegboyega.

In a statement of the Minister by his Media Adviser , Sola Fasure, Aregbesola stated:

”I will like to thank you most sincerely for heeding the call earlier this morning to participate in our party’s governorship primary and conduct yourselves most peacefully. You adopted a non-violent posture, even in the face of sore provocation.

“You have demonstrated your loyalty to the party and democratic ideals. You have comported yourselves as Omoluabi in the true essence.

“We have received and continue to receive the reports of the shenanigans of the officials who conducted the sham of an election.

“We have been inundated with reports state-wide of how your names were expunged from the party’s voters register, which was not made available until this morning, contrary to the convention of making the list available to the candidates before the election.

“We have heard of how party registration cards were being hawked this morning to the supporters of the state governor.

‘We have also received reports of how accreditation was not done at all in many wards and how people without the party identification just participated and queued behind the governor in many polling units.

“We have received the report from our members and independent observers, how government officials and notable supporters of the governor officiated in the election, how votes were farcically counted in favour of the governor and how the votes recorded for him were more than the number of voters accredited ab initio in many units.

“We have heard of the absence of result sheets and other vital documents for recording results and vital data.

“We note also the absence of INEC officials in most wards, casting serious doubt on the credibility of the election.

“We note with shame and much regret the consternation of local and international observers on what they regard as a travesty of an election.

“I will urge you to maintain your cool and calm. Be not downcast, be not agitated. Hold your head high. We are still receiving and studying all these reports and will take a definitive position on them.

“You are urged not to take laws into your hands. Please leave the rest to the Almighty God and let us explore all peaceful and legal means for addressing the matter in order to obtain justice.

“Please remain committed to peace and the rule of law. Be unflinching in your commitment to the democratic ideals.

“Democracy is for the long haul. As you all know, we never tire and we never give up on the cause we believe in. Be rest assured that victory is ours.”

It doesn’t matter what Aregbesola says now. The fact is that he has lost out. And needs to start afresh.

By  Ayodele Oni

Former Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola shocked his candidate and supporters as he was nowhere to be found during the Primary Election of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) in the state on Saturday, February 19, 2022.

As bits of Moshood Adeoti’s performance (his chosen candidate for the Governorship Primary election in Osun) began to emerge, the Minister of Interior was nowhere to be found. He did not even vote for his annoited at his Ilesa East Ifofin ward.

Informed sources revealed that rather than vote for Adeoti at the primary election, the Minister reportedly travelled to Ghana for an undisclosed reason.

His absence may not be unconnected with the fact that the people resented his clamour to make Adeoti the next Governor and return Osun to regime of half salary and confusing educational policies.

Indications from the results emerging from the polling centers pointed to a clear loss for the Minister and his candidate.

Incumbent Governor Oyetola is in clear lead, going by results already counted and made public.

Both Aregbesola and Adeoti lost in their Wards.