APC National Convention: Oyegun Declines Re-Election

Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie Oyegun has said that he will not be seeking reelection to the Party’s national chairmanship position during the June 23rd national convention of the Party billed to hold in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

The former Edo State governor stated this in a press statement he personally signed.

This has further helped to clear the way for the emergence of the immediate past governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole as the national Chairman of the Party.

Oyegun was said to have been under intense pressure by opposition elements within the Party to seek reelection as part of their grand plots to sabotage President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection bid.

He had to make his decision public in order to clear any doubts about his loyalty to the President and majority of Party members who feel that the Party needs a younger and more proactive National Chairman in order to reposition her for greater success in the upcoming 2019 general elections.

It is expected that all the current members of the present NWC of the Party will follow Oyegun’s lead by declining reelection, no matter the amount of pressure put on them by opposition contractors within the Party.

WHY I THREW IN THE TOWEL-OYEGUN

According to the News Agency of Nigeria [NAN], Chief Odigie-Oyegun said that he will not be re-contesting the national chairmanship position in the forthcoming National Convention slated for June 23, in the party´s interest.

He stated this on Friday night in Abuja while speaking with newsmen.

He added that his decision was taken after wide consultation with close political associates and family members and not because of intimidation.

However, he said that the tenure extension that was hitherto agreed by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) suffered a setback following President Buhari´s opposition.

According to him, the tenure extension would have helped to stabilise the party in the face of some of its challenges and may have prevented the crisis that followed its recent congresses in some states of the federation.

He said that some of the party leaders ought to have considered the tenure extension to be in the best interest of the party.

This, he said, would have ensured that the party go into the 2019 elections as a united fighting force, rather than one that was potentially weakened by internal conflicts arising from competitive congresses and convention.

Odigie-Oyegun urged party leaders to close ranks and to make the party a strong fighting force ahead of the 2019 general elections.

“Now that the Convention Committee has invited interested aspirants to obtain forms to contest various national positions in our party, it has become necessary for me to state my position.

“I have consulted widely with my family, friends and associates, even though, I had the desire to re-contest as the national chairman of the party.

“I have decided that it is ultimately in the best interest of the party for me to withdraw from the race, ´´ he said.

“I believe that the party faces difficult days ahead, and all critical stakeholders in its leadership would be required to bind together for a common purpose´´.

He advised that a less-contentious convention would be better for the party adding that he had always sought to be part of solving the party´s problems.

“I do not intend to be part of the problem for APC to solve. It is for this reason that I hereby declare that I will not be seeking re-election as the national chairman.

“However, I will continue to perform my functions as the national chairman of the party, till my tenure officially ends on Monday, June 25 when a new set of party executives will be inaugurated, ´´ Odigie-Oyegun said.

By Onwuasoanya FCC Jones