Massive protests on Thursday rocked the headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, as stakeholders and party faithful in their numbers voiced their outrage against alleged illegitimate appointment of Mr. Lukman Abubakar as the APC Chairman in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
The act was reportedly masterminded by the State Chairman of the party, Prince Sunday Fagbemi alongside the Transition Implementation Chairman (TIC) for Ifelodun Local Government Council, Hon. Jide Asonibare and the State Secretary of the party, Alhaji Mustapha Ishowo, sparking condemnations and calls for transparency and fairness within the party.
Fielding questions from our correspondent, the Acting
Chairman of APC in Ifelodun LGA,
Razaq Olatayo Owolabi, strongly condemned the appointment, citing its disregard for democratic principles and party guidelines, adding that he protest signified a deep-seated concern among party members and stakeholders regarding the erosion of democratic processes within the APC in the state, particularly in Ifelodun LGA.
He added: “This move has led to a loss of trust and confidence in the party’s leadership, highlighting the need for intervention to restore credibility and uphold democratic values, not only in Ifelodun LGA but also across the state.”
Checks by this medium revealed that stakeholders, including the Deputy Governor, state executives, and Kwara South Senatorial executives, have distanced themselves from the controversial appointment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the party’s integrity and support base.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and APC leaders at both national and state levels have been called upon to intervene in the crisis without much delay to safeguard the party’s democratic ideals in the state.