Anger In Buhari Strongholds As Oshiomhole Wrecks APC

There is widespread anger in the strongholds of President Muhammadu Buhari as furious APC members are said to have begun to express concerns that the party might lose next year’s general elections following the crisis in at least 19 States Chapters of the party precipitated by the party’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole’s handling of matters affecting the APC.

An angry party source had lamented: “He is destroying the APC. The party is on the verge of not fielding candidates for many important offices following the chairman’s hijack of the screening process.”

According to the source, Oshiomhole has led an onslaught against serving governors, and new aspirants in the name of “impeaching Bukola Saraki “and in the process creating anger amongst party members who have been denied the opportunity of expressing their Democratic choices.

“So far Oshiomhole has ensured that Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is denied a second-term ticket, which will affect the chances of the party in Lagos State. There are fears that Adamawa Governor Bindow may suffer the same fate as Oshiomhole clears the path for Aisha Buhari’s younger brother to fly the party’s flag in the state.

“We are courting the anger of the people, who are watching. The PDP behavior is what we are replaying and the fear is that we might be punished” said the sources.

Party leaders in various states, especially in the North, told our correspondent that the APC has never had it so bad. “Not even Jonathan or the PDP has done the kind of damage to the APC like Oshiomhole has done.

“For the first time since the APC was founded, members are openly questioning the party leadership and Buhari himself.

“Adams (Oshiomhole) seems determined to destroy Buhari’s re-election prospects in 2019. He is attacking and denigrating the party leaders that have been Buhari’s most loyal backers.

“He is favoring disloyal elements, many of whom are political lightweights in their states. He set aside the reports of the screening committee and has unilaterally disqualified aspirants in favour of incumbent members of the National Assembly

“His moves have created tensions in many states. Members in Buhari’s core states have never been this disenchanted and disillusioned.

“The defection of Saraki did not damage the APC because it meant the formal exit of people who had long left the party.
“Oshiomhole is doing more damage than the defectors because he is attacking loyal members who built the party and have stood by it since 2014.

“He is like Bamanga Tukur. Though the PDP got rid of Tukur, it never recovered from the actions of Tukur. Oshiomhole’s actions will definitely have more disastrous consequences for the APC,” the sources insisted.

It could be recalled that three APC governors were conspicuously absent at the Party’s presidential primary where President Buhari was endorsed as the presidential candidate of the Party on Sunday.

They are: Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state, Governor Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa state and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state.