Politics

National convention: Aregbesola, Lai’s allies, aggrieved chieftains’ supporters dump APC

Published

4 years ago

March 29, 2022

Rauf Aregbesola and Lai Mohammed

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress in at least 12 states has not abated despite the conclusion of the party’s national convention and the charge by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for unity, The PUNCH has learnt.

It was also gathered that the reconciliation committee headed by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who is now the chairman of the party, had yet to submit its full report as only an interim report had been handed over to the APC.

The PUNCH had reported that there were 208 ongoing court cases in different parts of the country by aggrieved APC members. However, with many of the cases being concluded, some losers have now begun dumping the party, while others are now engaged in talks with the Peoples Democratic Party.

In Kwara State, it was gathered that members of the APC faction led by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had removed the party’s flag from their secretariat. A visit to the factional secretariat on 26 Abdulrazaq Road, Flower Garden, GRA, Ilorin, revealed that members had deserted the building.

A member of the state House of Assembly representing the Ojomu/Balogun Constituency in the Offa Local Government Area, Saheed Popoola, who is a leading member of the Lai Mohammed faction, announced his defection to the Social Democratic Party on the floor of the Assembly last week.

In a chat with The PUNCH on Monday, the faction said it had exited the APC.

The Publicity Secretary of the APC faction elected at the parallel congress organised by the group, Ibrahim Sharafadeen, disclosed this in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents.

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“We have exited the APC officially, but we have not declared for any political party. Our leaders have not made any public declaration on which political party we are moving to. We will make it public very soon,” Sharafadeen stated.

Asked if the faction would move to the SDP, Sharafadeen said no, adding, “That was the sole decision of Popoola, who informed the Kwara State House of Assembly that he had defected from the APC.”

In Sokoto State where there is no APC chairman currently, it was learnt that the PDP had begun making moves to bring aggrieved members into its fold.

An APC chieftain in the state said, “Sokoto State is a peculiar matter. The party has no recognised leadership at the moment, because of the court case challenging the congresses. In fact, only statutory delegates from Sokoto, like former governors and others, were allowed to vote (during the national convention). Others, who emerged from the congresses, were barred.

“We are aware that the PDP is already trying to woo some of the APC members into its fold. And if this disagreement isn’t well managed, the APC may lose in Sokoto again.”

In Zamfara State, the faction led by Governor Bello Matawalle is the recognised one, but the factions led by Senator Kabiru Marafa and ex-governor Abul’Aziz Yari have refused to withdraw their cases from court.

The Mafara faction said it would not withdraw its pending cases before the courts despite the national convention conducted last Saturday.

Speaking to The PUNCH on the telephone, the spokesman for the faction, Bello Bakyasuwa, said the pending cases in various courts would be pursued to logical conclusion.

He said, “We are going ahead with the court cases. We have pending cases at various courts and we will not withdraw the cases, because we are still not convinced that we have been treated fairly.

“We are challenging the legality of Governor Matawalle’s factional chairman, Tukur Danfulani, and the remaining executive committee members, because they were not elected in a legal way.

“We are also challenging the reason why the national headquarters of our great party refused to recognise our factional party executives, who were duly elected during the parallel congress held in the state.”

Bakyasuwa also stressed that the faction would challenge last Saturday’s national convention as due process was not followed during the event.

“We are going to court to challenge the election of Senator Abdullahi Adamu and other national executive members of the party, because of a series of illegalities. We were really not happy with the conduct of the congress and we will not let it go like that,” he stated.

On whether the Marafa’s APC faction would remain in APC or not, Bakyasuwa said it was in consultation with lawyers.

“We are in consultation with our lawyers on whether to remain in the party or not. So, I cannot precisely tell you what will happen until after the consultation,” he explained.

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In Osun State, Abiodun Agboola, Publicity Secretary of the APC faction backed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said members of the group would wait for the court to decide a matter it instituted challenging Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s eligibility, which is before an Abuja court.

Agboola told one of our correspondents that the group had no plans to defect from the APC.

He, however, declared that the group would pursue the matter of Oyetola’s eligibility to stand as the governorship candidate of the APC to a logical conclusion.

He stated, “We are not moving to any party and we are not talking to any party whatsoever. We remain members of the APC. The national convention has come and gone. Officers have emerged and they have been sworn in.

“That does not mean that we are going to leave the party. But we have a case in court. We are challenging his (Oyetola’s) eligibility. The case came up before a Federal High Court in Abuja last Friday. We are saying that he is not even qualified to stand as the flag bearer of the party in the election coming up in July. We will wait for the court to decide that case before the next line of action.”

But a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Diran Odeyemi, said the opposition party in Osun State would be interested in negotiating with the APC faction backed by Aregbesola.

Odeyemi, an associate of the Osun PDP governorship flag bearer, Senator Ademola Adeleke, who observed that negotiations should not be ruled out ahead of the poll, added that his party would reach out to all those opposed to Oyetola in the APC, since they had been ostracised by the APC.

He contended that the crises in the Osun APC would be leveraged upon by the PDP to have a good outing in the governorship poll.

PUNCH

Related Topics:APC Aregbesola chieftains Featured Lai National Convention

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Badagry women rally behind Ajose, demand APC gov ticket in 2027

Published

4 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Badagry women rally behind Ajose, demand APC gov ticket in 2027

Women across Badagry Division, under the aegis of the Women of Badagry Federation, have unanimously endorsed Dr. Samuel Mawuyon Ajose as their preferred governorship candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 Lagos State election.

The group argued that Lagos cannot genuinely claim fairness, equity, and justice while Badagry continues to be sidelined politically, noting that the division has not produced a governor since the state’s creation in 1967, through both military and civilian administrations.

Speaking on behalf of the group at the Badagry Town Hall, former member of the House of Representatives, Rafeequat Arinola Onabamiro, clarified that the move was not a protest but a legitimate demand rooted in equity.

She stressed that it is Badagry’s turn to govern Lagos State in 2027.

“When Lagos needed stability, Badagry stood for peace. When the party needed support, Badagry delivered. When leadership needed mobilisation, Badagry showed up,” she said.

Onabamiro added that history would remember President Bola Ahmed Tinubu positively if he honours the request, stressing that Badagry remains a critical stakeholder in the state’s future and should no longer be treated as a political bystander.

She also warned against individuals exploiting Badagry’s identity to secure political appointments at state and federal levels without truly representing the interests of the division.

The former lawmaker further described Dr. Ajose as a committed party loyalist who has consistently contributed to the growth of the APC, Lagos State, and the South-West region.

Also speaking, Chief Rasheed Shobaloju, representing the aspirant, maintained that the demand by the women was both genuine and justified.

He reiterated that the appeal was directed at President Tinubu and the APC leadership, expressing optimism for a favourable response.

In her remarks, APC women leader in Badagry, Mrs. Kikelomo Ladipo, assured that women in the division would mobilise massively to support the party in the 2027 general elections.

Similarly, Hon. Funmi Agbaje stated that the women of Badagry are firmly behind Ajose’s ambition, noting that women constitute a decisive voting bloc capable of determining electoral outcomes.

She described President Tinubu as an inclusive leader and urged continued support for his administration’s policies in the interest of national development.

Politics

Arise News Anchor Ikokwu Quits Journalism, Joins Politics

Published

10 hours ago

April 1, 2026

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Dr. Chiogo Constance Ikokwu

Arise News Anchor Ikokwu Quits Journalism, Joins Politics

Dr. Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, a renowned Arise News anchor and analyst, has officially resigned from journalism to pursue a career in politics, declaring her intention to represent Idemili North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Known for her incisive reporting and commitment to holding leaders accountable, Ikokwu said her decision was motivated by firsthand exposure to governance gaps and a growing belief that professionals must move beyond media commentary to active political participation.

“This transition is a continuation of service, just on a different platform,” Ikokwu said, explaining that her years in journalism deepened her understanding of Nigeria’s policy and governance challenges and reinforced her commitment to ethical, informed leadership.

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Ikokwu emphasised that her career in media brought her into close contact with citizens’ daily realities, from their struggles to broader policy failures, which strengthened her resolve to contribute constructively from within the system.

Her move reflects a broader call for competent Nigerians with integrity and fresh ideas to step into leadership roles rather than remain on the sidelines. She urged more citizens to engage in politics actively, noting that shaping Nigeria’s future requires courage, responsibility, and collective action.

Prior to her political decision, Ikokwu had built a distinguished career as a journalist, foreign correspondent, and media strategist, covering major governance and policy issues that sharpened her insight into public service.

Her announcement has sparked discussions on the growing trend of media professionals transitioning into politics, signalling a new generation of leaders emerging from non-traditional political backgrounds.

Arise News Anchor Ikokwu Quits Journalism, Joins Politics

Politics

Tinubu Holds Urgent Meetings with Ganduje, Badaru as APC Defections Surge

Published

18 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and President Bola Tinubu

Tinubu Holds Urgent Meetings with Ganduje, Badaru as APC Defections Surge

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night held separate closed-door meetings with former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and ex-Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, amid rising defections from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The meetings came as political tensions intensified in Kano and Jigawa States, following a series of high-profile defections that threaten to reshape APC’s influence in the Northern region. Although the discussions were private, sources indicate they were focused on strategies to stabilise party structures and address internal grievances.

The immediate trigger for concern was the recent defection of former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Several of Kwankwaso’s loyalists, including Nasiru Gawuna, APC’s 2023 governorship candidate in Kano, and former deputy governor Aminu Gwarzo, followed him to the ADC, raising alarm among APC leadership.

Earlier in the day, Ganduje appeared publicly with Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin during an event where eight NNPP lawmakers defected to APC, an effort seen as part of the ruling party’s counter-strategy to maintain dominance in the state. Ganduje reassured supporters that APC remains strong and capable of delivering victory in Kano in the 2027 elections.

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Ganduje, who served as APC National Chairman until his resignation in July 2025, remains a key influencer in northern politics. Badaru, a former Jigawa State Governor, recently resigned from his federal cabinet position, sparking similar political realignments in his home state. Sources suggest some APC stakeholders in Jigawa may also consider joining opposition platforms, reflecting a broader trend of party switching in northern Nigeria.

Political analysts say the meetings indicate Tinubu’s urgent focus on party unity ahead of the 2027 elections, aiming to curb defections and reconcile internal factions. Observers note that while some political actors continue to leave, others are joining APC, highlighting a fluid political landscape.

The developments underscore the strategic challenges facing APC, as opposition parties like the ADC gain ground, particularly in the Middle Belt and northern states, in the run-up to the next general elections.