Ex-APC Aspirants Urge Oshiomhole to Allow Free and Democratic Process in the Party

Members of the Core APC Forum, comprising former presidential, governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly aspirants, have urged the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, to allow a free and democratic process within the party.

The group expressed concern over reports that the APC National Working Committee (NWC) was considering the suspension or expulsion of some party leaders who had approached courts or election tribunals to challenge their alleged wrongful exclusion from party primaries or the imposition of candidates during the 2019 general elections.

In a statement signed by the forum’s chairman, Mumakai Unagha, and S.K.C. Ogbonna, the group alleged that information from the party’s national secretariat suggested that Oshiomhole was compiling a list of prominent members who could face disciplinary action.

According to the forum, those reportedly being considered for suspension were drawn from the six geopolitical zones, with a significant number said to be from Delta State.

The group claimed that some affected members were being targeted following accusations by political rivals, particularly individuals who lost governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

It further alleged that some party members who approached the courts to challenge what they considered unfair exclusion or the imposition of candidates were being considered for sanctions.

The forum argued that internal disagreements and controversies surrounding the party’s primaries contributed to the APC’s poor performance in some states during the elections.

“We call on the National Working Committee of the party to halt any such move. The National Chairman should act as a true democrat and avoid decisions that could negatively affect the future of the party,” the group said.

The former aspirants maintained that seeking legal redress was a legitimate part of the democratic process and that aggrieved party members should be allowed to pursue their cases without intimidation.

They referred to President Muhammadu Buhari’s acknowledgement of the importance of lawful electoral challenges and urged Oshiomhole to allow members seeking justice through the courts and tribunals to exhaust the legal options available to them.

According to the group, party members should not be threatened with suspension or expulsion merely because they decided to challenge internal party decisions.

The forum also blamed some of the APC’s internal crises on disputes arising from state congresses and primary elections, arguing that a more transparent and fair process could have prevented many of the disagreements.

It therefore appealed to Oshiomhole and the NWC to abandon any plan to sanction members solely for seeking legal redress and instead promote reconciliation, fairness and internal democracy within the party.