Primaries: APC Governors meet President Buhari at Villa, as Ajimobi’s alleged blocking of Shittu creates cracks in Oyo
*Member frowns NWC cancels Lagos, Zamfara, Kwara guber primaries but leave out Oyo
The meeting happened while the alleged plot by Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, blocking the Minister of Communications, Dr. Abdulraheem Adebayo Shittu, from partaking in the last governorship primaries in the state over a concocted NYSC certificate issue has generated ripples within the APC in the state.
Nine All Progressives Congress (APC) governors on Thursday stormed the Presidential Villa, Abuja where they met with President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed-doors.
The governors apparently met the President to protest over the outcome of on-going party primaries some of which were marred by crisis, to seek his intervention.
The meeting, which lasted for about an hour, happened while the alleged plot by Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, blocking the Minister of Communications, Dr. Abdulraheem Adebayo Shittu, from partaking in the last governorship primaries in the state over a concocted NYSC certificate issue has generated ripples within the APC in the state.
A member of the party in Ibadan frowned at the way Oyo governorship primaries he said was full of intrigues and twists has continued to be recognised by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party even as it cancelled Lagos exercise after postponing for three times and has now cancelled the Zamfara and Kwara states governorship primaries.
There are other such ripples going on in the states among APC ranks particularly in Ogun State where the party produces two governorship candidates and need urgent attention.
Speaking to State House correspondents shortly after the meeting, Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Chief Rochas Okorocha of Imo State who led the group, said they were in the villa to seek solutions to the sundry crisis dogging the primaries and right the wrongs for justice to prevail.
“We came to review the various crises characterizing our primaries especially the APC with a view to finding solution. So, we are looking for a way out in this regard.
“We are going to find solution, our party believes in justice, equity and fairness. We are requesting let the right thing be done and let everyone contest the elections,” Okorocha said while fielding questions.
The governors included Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Tanko Al-Makura of Nassarawa State.
Others were Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Sani Bello of Niger State, Simon Lalong of Plateau State and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.
The Ondo State Governor and his counterpart from Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai were at the State House on Wednesday but their mission at Aso Rock was not disclosed.
