From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The fate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the November 2918 poll hangs in the balance as members, supporters and officials are singing different tunes following the endorsement of the governor as sole candidate by the local chapter of the party in the confluence state.
The faction of the party in the state led by Hadi Ametuo has further split with one arm taken over by the Secretary, Salam Tom Adejoh, while the Chairman, Ametuo on Thursday joined forces with the group loyal to the governor at a consultative meeting on Thursday in Lokoja the state capital.
Another surprise came up on the Thursday which was attended by a delegation from the Progressive Governors Forum, which included the Kebbi state Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu ,Yobe state Governor, Alhaji Maimala Buni as well as the immediate past Governor of Bauch state, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar.
During the stakeholders forum held at the part’s secretariat in Lokoja, two terms senator from Kogi West Senatorial District, Smart Adeyemi vowed to work against his party if the incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello is denied ticket to return for a second term.
He said, “We in Kogi state have seen a young, vibrant, detribalised personality in Governor Bello and we have unanimously resolved to work for his re-election come November 16”.he said.
According to him, “We believe in him, he has treated us fairly, he gave everyone equal opportunity to everyone to develop and participate in the governance of the state.”
Also the factional Chairman of APC in the state, Alhaji Hady Ametuo said he had collapsed the former state executive committee members into the present exco led by Alhaji Abdulahi Bello and loyal to the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
Speaking during the forum, the local Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Bello appealed to the National Executive Committee of the party to approved indirect mode of primary election coming up in August, which according him worked successful for the party in the previous primaries devoid of rancor and Acrimonies among members.
Ametuo said that “for three and half year I, together with members of my excos have been fighting my brother, the Governor, and if now we decide to bury our differences, what is the problem?”
According to him, “I worked hard to build this party, I worked hard for this party to win the state, I cannot open my eyes and allow PDP to win the state in the next election”
He said that himself and all members of his former cabinet will work to ensure victory for the party in November.
But the secretary of the factional group who addressed newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, debunked the alleged endorsement of Governor Bello, saying that the governor’s poor performance should not be rewarded with a second term.
The State Secretary, Adejoh emphasized that the executive committee members are not in any position to endorse any aspirants, stressing that the party governorship ticket is open to every qualified party member.
“We did not endorse anyone and we are not planning to. The party’s ticket is open to everyone in the party”, added.
According to him, the last meeting of the state executive committee, which held on Saturday, did not discuss Bello’s endorsement.
The party scribed dismissed media reports credited to a faction of the state executive, led by the chapter chairman, purportedly endorsing the governor for a second term.
Narrating the exco’s last meeting with the governor, Adejoh said, “Our discussion ended at the need for peace so that the party can move forward. He (governor) said he needed a sincere peace and we agreed on terms. There was nothing like endorsement.
“The terms we agreed on was that our allowances and other packages that we are entitled to would be given to us and we all agreed on these terms.
“The governor requested for the case in court to be withdrawn. We told him there are some processes to be followed. The issue of withdrawing the case is subject to another negotiation”.
The executive members had dragged the governor to court over his refusal to pay arrears of their entitlements as party chiefs.
On the suitability of Governor Bello’s re-election, Adejoh said, “The party has its own criteria on what they want from a candidate. If someone has performed well or is an achiever, it will speak for itself. Yahaya has been far away from us, since then he has not been properly directed.
On the reported endorsement of the governor by traditional rulers in Kogi State at the presidential villa in Abuja last week, the party secretary said the governorship election is not a traditional affair.
According to him, the traditional rulers are only entitled to vote at the election but that they are not in the position to decide who will be the APC candidate because they are not delegates.
Other party chieftains that joined Adejoh at the briefing included the State Organizing Secretary, Alh. Isah Abubakar; Zonal Youth Leader, Noah Akwu; APC Bassa LGA Chairman, Mallam Isiaka Ibrahim among others.
