Ekiti APC Denies Excluding Tinubu’s Loyalists from Stakeholders’ Parley

Victor Ogunje

The Ekiti State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has denied the allegation raised by former Minister of Works, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye, that those loyal to the National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, were prevented from attending party’s meetings.

Adeyeye, who is the National Chairman of the Southwest Agenda (SWAGA) 2023 for Tinubu’s Presidential Candidacy, averred that prominent members of the group were prevented from attending the stakeholders’ parley that was held in Ado Ekiti on July 2, 2021.

But a statement that was signed yesterday by the APC State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ade Ajayi, posited that all members of the party were duly invited for the meeting.

The party charged the former minister to stop propagating information that could ignite crisis and cause disaffection among the party’s heavyweights in Ekiti and beyond.

Ajayi said: “The Ekiti State Caretaker Committee of the APC would like to state categorically that all efforts were taken to ensure notice of the meeting reached every concerned person, including the placement of adverts in national dailies, the broadcast of jingles on radio stations, and the posting of posters at the state party secretariat and branches across the state.

“We cannot force anyone to drink from the fount of peace and reconciliation that is flowing freely amongst members of the party in the state.

“As a party, we shall do all within our power to encourage all members to participate in genuine efforts to reconcile all parties and build one big and united family.

“As was stated clearly at the meeting and the communique issued thereafter, all members of the party are enjoined to desist from promoting any interests above the interest of the party. It is the resolute position of the party that all bona fide members are welcome, and no one would be left behind in matters that concern the party.

“We encourage those bent on causing divisions amongst us to stop lying – you were all notified of the meeting, like everyone else. You are all invited to join the rest of us in the ship of unity and progress. This is the honourable thing to do as Ekiti people.”

However, against the backdrop of the impending APC national convention, the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, has advised members of the party to be law abiding throughout the time of the congresses.

Afuye made this appeal yesterday in a statement that was issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Tai Oguntayo, in Ado Ekiti.

He commended the leaders of the party in Ekiti State for resolving all the seeming crises in the party.

“There cannot but be disagreement in a political party, especially in a ruling party. But it is usually resolved as a family affair because there is no permanent enemy but common interest in politics,” he said.