APC Crisis Continues As Kogi Chapter Disassociates Itself From Mesoko’s Candidacy

The Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has distanced itself from the candidacy of Duro Mesoko as the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary.

Naija News had earlier reported that security operatives took over strategic locations within and around the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

Some protesters stormed the secretariat to show their grievances over some of the newly appointed members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

The new NWC members are scheduled to be sworn in this afternoon.

However, the Chairman of the Kogi State APC, Abdullahi Bello, in a statement released on Thursday, said the choice of the deputy publicity secretary-designate did not emanate from the state.

Bello claimed that the move of the Abdullahi Ganduje-led NWC is a clear contravention of the party’s constitution by known agents of destabilisation.

The statement read, “Consequent upon the resignation of the two officers from the party, the Kogi State All Progressives Congress under the leadership of the Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, met to ratify and forward names of replacements for the national and zonal officers that left the party. The State Chapter ratified Hon. Yahaya Ade Ismail as the new Deputy National Publicity Secretary and Hon. Isiaka Musa as the Zonal Organising Secretary for North Central; and in line with the provisions of our constitution, communicated the ratified replacements to the National Working Committee through the North Central Zonal Chairman of the Party.

“To our dismay, the National Working Committee came up with strange names which didn’t pass through the State Chapter nor the North Central Zone of the party and purportedly went ahead to ratify them, citing “Presidency interest” as the rationale for their action. We strongly reject the action as we will not be parties to the blatant and flagrant violation of our party’s constitution.

“Our belief in Mr. President as a man who respects the Constitution of our party and a man who believes in due process is unshaken in the face of the current confusion foisted on the party by people dropping the name of the President to achieve their selfish aims. We call on the National Working Committee of the Party to reverse the unconstitutional replacements done on our behalf without our ratification or approval, and revert to our ratified list as they occupy those offices on behalf of the State Chapter of our party.”