APC: 17 Governors plan to remove Oyegun

The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun is under fire as 17 Governors are plotting to remove him.

Naija News gathered that the governors are displeased that Oyegun has been running the party with just seven of their colleagues. As a result of this, they are expected to express their grievances at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on October 31 and pass a vote of no confidence on Oyegun.

Oyegun’s supporters have pointed out former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s supporters as part of the plot.

Read also: Yoruba language bill passed into law in Lagos

A source disclosed to The Nation that “Ahead of the NEC meeting of APC next week, there is tension in the party. About 17 of the 24 governors are unhappy with the national chairman. They are plotting to withdraw their support for him, unless he carries all of them along.”

“The 17 governors believe that Oyegun is romancing their seven colleagues because the APC National Chairman believes they are close to the President.

“They expressed fears that the party might split the way the National Chairman was leaving decisions on issues to the ‘anointed’ governors.”

The seven Governors are: Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi); Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Solomon Lalong (Plateau); Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).

However, a member of NEC said: “What you are hearing is a game plan to pass a vote of no confidence on Oyegun at the NEC meeting.

“The issues the 17 governors are raising are part of the conspiracy against the National Chairman. And what you are likely to see is the direction where things will go at the NEC session.

Read also: Sule Lamido holds closed door meeting with Abdulsalami

“As regards Oyegun’s preference for some governors, I do not think it is true. If the chairman has personal relationship with some governors, I think it is by virtue of their position or performance.

“For instance, the National Chairman does not hide his likeness for El-Rufai who he describes openly as ‘very energetic and full of ideas’.

He said Oyegun is always proud of the governor of Kebbi and he relates well with Okorocha as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), adding that he is also well atuned with the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Abdul-Aziz Yari, to be kept abreast on issues of governance.