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2022: APC Primary Won’t Be Free And Fair – Aregbesola Group Allege

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Rasaq Salinsile, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress faction supported by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, on Friday alleged intimidation of their members ahead of the governorship primary of the party.

Salinsile while speaking at a press conference held at the Oranmiyan House, Osogbo, alleged that operatives of the state police command have arrested a member of their group identified as Rasidi Opatola.

According to the faction chairman, the police also invited a former Assistant Chief of Staff during the Aregbesola administration, Jimoh Akano.

He further stated that 38 buses filled with thugs with support from security operatives entered the state capital on Friday.

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Salinsile charged security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities and ensure the safety of lives and property.

He said, “38 buses filled with suspected hoodlums and led by security agents had entered Osogbo. We call on the security agencies to be alive to their responsibility and ensure the safety of lives and property.

“The thugs were conveyed into the state in 38 vehicles at the early hour of today, Friday.

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“The vehicles were escorted by a police van into the state through Abere. The governor and his faction, Ileri Oluwa, plan to unleash an attack on members of the party who are loyalists of the Aregbesola in tomorrow’s primary.”

The candidate of the group, Moshood Adeoti, while speaking, alleged that the primary of the party might not be credible as the state Governor is a member of the National Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the APC.

He said Oyetola’s membership of the caretaker committee was in violation of the provision of Article 31(iii) of the APC constitution (2014) as amended.

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Adeoti questioned the decision of the party to change the date for the primary from March 5 to February 19.

Aregbesola’s anointed candidate also alleged the refusal of the party to release the register of party members that would be used for the primary saying, “If there is no deliberate attempt to manipulate the primary process, it is important to make the membership register available, display it for claims and objections before using it for tomorrow’s primary election or any time it will come up.

“We have it on good authority that the NCECPC was influenced by Oyetola to reverse the date to have the primary before the National Convention coming up on February 26, 2022.

“It is believed that Oyetola is afraid of contesting a free and fair primary election to be conducted by an objective committee after the convention.

“In the spirit of fair play, objectivity and natural justice, Governor Oyetola is not supposed to remain in the membership of the NCECPC. What we are witnessing is a case of a thief adjudicating his own case. He can never convict himself.

“My supporters and I are going to participate in the primary election tomorrow. We are not going to boycott. I want to urge all APC members to go to their collation centres in their various wards to vote for me.

“I called on the security agencies in the state to provide adequate security for our people. As said earlier, the governor’s camp is planning violence, but we are resolute and believe that the security agents will act responsibly.”