Osoba faction shuns APC National Convention
Adetokunbo Fakeye
Crisis rocking the ruling party in Ogun State deepens as two time governor of the state and chieftain of the party at national level, Aremo Olusegun Osoba was yesterday conspicuously absent at the maiden national convention of the party, All Progressives Party in Abuja.
Most members of his faction including members of the National Assembly were absent.
The former Governor and members of National Assembly from Ogun have been at logger-head with the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Aremo Osoba has accused the governor of running the party as his empire, refusing to carry them along.
The crisis blossomed when the National Assembly members from the state started agitating for automatic return ticket to the NASS. The move which Mr Governor did not agreed with.
The governor, NigerianEcho learnt, told whoever care to listen that every elected persons wishing to go for second term should face party members for endorsement.
The party congresses in the state produced two EXCOs but, the national body of the party at the end endorsed the Amosun-led faction and this polarised the party more as Osoba-led faction twice held meeting within three weeks stating that the battle line has been drawn with the governor, whom the other group members accused of wanting them out of the party.
The former governor even told his supporters that, even the party chieftains at the national wouldn’t be able to settle the rift between them.
However, the faction’s absence at the convention according to aides of the governor, Otunba Babatunde Olaotan, did not take the shine off the Ogun delegates stand at venue of the Convention as the State recorded one of the highest number of delegates.
Recent moves by the former governor Osoba and his faction according to some party faithfuls in the state is indicating a possible defection of the group from APC the insinuation which Osoba himself has denied.
However, in few days time according to a member of the faction, their stand would be known. Some political watchers said if Osoba leave or plan protest votes against the party it will be a minus to him and not a plus.
Meanwhile, the Osoba group will meet again in Abeokuta today to consider whether they will leave the APC or take Amosun’s hand of fellowship.