There are indications that some members of the All Progressives Congress National Working Committee may work for the success of some of the preferred candidates of aggrieved governors and aspirants’ in the 2019 general elections, findings by Saturday PUNCH have revealed.

According to the APC sources, governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, are among the aggrieved party chiefs some of the NWC members may be supporting during the 2019 elections.

Specifically, it was learnt that some NWC members, who are loyal to the aggrieved governors and other party chiefs, might work for the success of their candidates even though some of them have now defected to other parties.

A member of the APC NWC, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution said, “Politics is about interests, most of us (NWC members) are here because we enjoy the support of our respective governors.

“All politics is local and for you to emerge from your state, or zone for those who are zonal officers; your governor in most cases did the leg work by selling your candidature to his colleagues who in turn sold your candidature to delegates in their individual states.

“There are also people whose governors nominated and worked for to ensure that they become members of the NWC.  How is it possible that such a person will now abandon his/ her governor in his hour of need?

“Take for example, the National Organising Secretary (Emma Ibidiro) who was handpicked by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to replace Senator Osita Izunaso. Do you expect him to work against his benefactor? Let us be realistic.”

In response to a question on how his colleagues in the NWC could be of use to their governors, the source said, “The 2019 elections whether you are talking about the state or National Assembly, that of governor or the President, it will hold in the various wards, local governments and states.

“Who controls this level of government? The governors! Who controls the resources at this level?  The governors! Who are those responsible for bankrolling the recruitment, training and welfare of party agents? The governors! State governors are the leaders of the party in their various states and a governor who is truly a governor and is in charge gives political direction for major political players in his state of the party.

Another member of the NWC, who also spoke on condition of anonymity said, “The reality on ground today is that the so called reconciliation you are reading about in the media is what it is, a media show. Go to any of the states where the so called reconciliation committees have visited and find out.  The level of injustice meted out to party members during our primaries is not something that just saying sorry can wipe away.”

Meanwhile, the NWC of the APC would meet on Tuesday to decide the fate of those working against the interest of the party.

It was learnt that the meeting would among other things review the reports of the Peace and Reconciliation Committees sent to the six geopolitical zones.

Our correspondent gathered that four of the committees had already submitted their reports to the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, as of Thursday.

Amosun, Okorocha and the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, have vowed to work against the governorship candidates in their states.

A member of the NWC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the party was in dilemma over the hard-line stance of the governors but was exercising restraint in meting out punishment.

When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary, of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, who confirmed that a meeting had been fixed for Tuesday, did not reveal the agenda.

He, however, said it was preemptive to suggest that the NWC would sanction the governors when the reports of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee had not been debated.

Besides, he said the committees were not raised specifically for the two governors but for all the members. – Punch

– Dec. 15, 2018 @ 13:05 GMT |