APC crisis deepens: NWC meeting deadlocked. Tinubu’s portraits and banners removed from party secretariat

APC crisis deepens: NWC meeting deadlocked Tinubu’s portraits and banners removed from party secretariat

A group of the All Progressive Congress (APC)  had removed all the portraits and banners of the self-proclaimed leader of the party and former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu which dotted the offices and environment of the party’s national secretariat.

This development Nigerian Times also learnt from a reliable party source may not be unconnected with recent moves by other leaders and stakeholders to checkmate Tinubu’s influence on the party structure and leadership.

Recall that a group with the identity ‘Coalition of APC Support Group from the South West’ which has declared sympathy for Tinubu’s travails had on Wednesday staged a protest at the secretariat attempting to impress it on party members to sheath their sword and allow the existing structures led by Tinubu to subsist.

The group insisted that the present structure comprising of President Muhammadu Buhari, national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Tinubu and Governor Rochas Okorocha should be allowed to subsist without threat of removal as they have ‘contributed immensely to the victory of the party, and so should be left alone in their positions’.

Led by Rev. Adebiyi Abraham, the group said: “Somebody wants to put President Muhammadu Buhari in trouble; that is why we are saying they should let sleeping dog lie and reward those who worked hard for the party.

“I believe the PDP is down but not out, they are looking for every possible way to bring down the APC. I believe the party is working hard but we don’t want a situation whereby people bring down the leaders of the party.

“We believe all the leaders that have piloted the party so far should not be shoved aside. Let them continue; it is too early in the day to be calling for changes. Let us have peace in the partly.”

Meanwhile, the APC may not be out of the crisis that has bedevilled it since the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon Yakubu Dogara as leaders of the 8th National Assembly soon. A meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC) Thursday to resolve the issue ended without being able to douse the tension.

Though there was no official statement from the APC, National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun told newsmen at the secretariat that the meeting will continue on Wednesday.