The All Progressives Congress Committee of Diaspora Chairmen (APC-CDC) on Friday disassociated itself from the purported congress organised by the United Kingdom chapter of the party.
The APC-CDC Chairman, Prof. Adesegun Labinjo disclosed this in a statement issued by the Committee’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Nick Apata, in Lagos.
Labinjo said: “The APC Committee of Diaspora Chairmen (APC-CDC) has unequivocally distanced itself from the events that took place in the UK on June 29, which were purported to be the UK APC Congress.”
Labinjo condemned the processes at the purported congress, describing them as “charade.”
The diaspora APC leader recalled that the National Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, had recently directed his deputy to mediate in the rift between the two factions in the UK chapter.
He said that “despite this ongoing effort”, the National Secretary of the party, Dr Ajibola Bashiru, allegedly proceeded with what the CDC described as a “one-faction Congress in the UK chapter.”
Labinjo, who described the move as counterproductive to the peace process, said, “Bashiru’s actions in the UK represented a significant setback to the progress we have tirelessly worked towards in unifying our chapter.”
While questioning the legal basis for the national secretariat’s imposition of nomination purchases on the UK chapter, Labinjo pointed out that the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) had deemed such action as illegal.
He noted that Section 85 of the Electoral Act stipulated that any political party holding or possessing funds outside Nigeria, in contravention of Section 225 (3) (a) of the Constitution, committed an offence.
He said that the factional conflict in the UK chapter was been exacerbated under the guise of “official party duties.”
Expressing disappointment, Labinjo said that the move would only deepen the fractures within the party leadership ranks, stressing that the conduct had led to widespread disillusionment among APC’s diaspora chapters.
He said that the party should avoid actions undermining the unity and morale of patriotic Nigerians abroad.
Labinjo urged Ganduje and President Bola Tinubu to intervene and caution the national secretariat on the handling of the diaspora affairs.
“It is imperative to prevent further damage to our Diaspora Chapters,” he said.
Labinjo underscored the gravity of the internal conflict, and called for urgent resolution that respects the party’s constitution. (NAN)
