The All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently embroiled in a leadership crisis that is bent on bringing it to its knees.

The crisis deepened on Sunday when national leader of the party, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for the resignation of the party chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun over the controversial Ondo governorship primary.

In a statement issued by Tinubu’s Media Office, he accused Oyegun of “political treachery and malfeasance of the basest order.”

The statement reads in part, “Chairman John Oyegun has breached these good pledges in a most overt and brazen display. In doing so, Oyegun has dealt a heavy blow to the very party he professes to lead. It is an awful parent who suffocates his own child for the sake of a few naira.

“Oyegun’s comportment regarding the Ondo State primacy will become the textbook definition of political treachery and malfeasance of the basest order. In early September, the state primary was held. A purported winner was named. Having faith in the ways of the party, Tinubu publicly accepted what he assumed to be a verdict honestly derived.”

Tinubu said that the Ondo primary was filled with irregularities as the delegates list was replaced to give access to non-delegates to vote, accusing Oyegun of turning a blind eye.

He stated further, “The delegate list had been materially altered by someone in a strategic position to so do. The names of over 150 valid delegates were excised to make room for an equal number of impostors. This was not a clerical error.”

Tinubu accused Oyegun of going behind the party’s back to submit the name of Rotimi Akeredolu to INEC as its candidate even after the National Working Committee (NWC) had vote six to five in favour of the conduct of a fresh primary.

“The NWC voted six against five to cancel the fraudulent results and hold an honest primary.

“Contravening the NWC decision and in violation of all rules of fundamental decency, Oyegun decided to safeguard the fraud done in Ondo by perpetrating a greater fraud. Oyegun arrogated to himself the right to submit the name of Rotimi Akeredolu to INEC as the candidate of the party.

“Oyegun has done the irredeemable. His coup is an insult to party and to patriot, to reason and to the reform agenda of this government.  To remain silent would be to admit the defeat of the reform and progressive change many have labored to bring forth.

“Oyegun’s transgressions are a warning. He is but the mercenary of forces that seek to return the nation to the old ways. If they get away with this infraction, no telling what or whom they will undermine tomorrow. Much is at stake. On the chopping block, lies the future of the political party in which the majority of voters had placed their confidence. To rescue the party, Oyegun must go. He has shown that he and democratic fair play cannot exist in the same party at the same time.””

Oludolapo Adelana

Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.