TheCable

Seven local government chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun, say Ibikunle Amosun, the governor, is “victimising and harassing party members” in the state.

In a petition to John Oyegun, national chairman of the APC, the local government chairmen who claimed that they represented 13 of their colleagues, said under Amosun the party organs in the state have become an appendage to him.

They said this has paralysed the party structure at all levels in the state.

“The party has not been holding meetings at all levels in the state viz state, senatorial, local government and at the ward levels. All party meetings have been replaced by briefings only from the governor Sen. Ibikunle Amosun,” the petition by the local government chairmen read.

“The state executive organ was and still is hardly financed by the APC-led administration of governor Ibikunle Amosun even with countless pleas from elders of the party.

“The state exco organ of the party in the state has become an appendage of the governor and this has divided and paralysed party structure at all levels in the state.

“It is now difficult for people to defect to the APC, instead, our members are being taken away and lured with gifts to other parties. We know the way things are going in the party, the fortunes of the party would be greatly affected in the state. Leaders of the party are perplexed but they cannot say anything. When they attend meetings with the governor, it is just to clap and clap, nothing else.”

Speaking with journalists on behalf of the group, Ayo Banjo said party members were not free to attend political functions in the state.

“Party members are not free to attend political functions with great party leaders in the state. Attending functions with these leaders are often met with the victimisation of party members, harassment, illegal suspension and removal of party executives,” he said.

“The governor does all these with reckless abandon and without regard to the political convenience leading to the emergence of the party excos at all levels in the state which hitherto had guaranteed peace.”

On his part, Oyegun promised to look into the matter.