APC guber primary: Crisis brews in Jimoh Ibrahim’s Ward over members loyalty
Crisis is brewing in the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Igbotako Ward 2, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State as some members of the executives suspended Senator Jimoh Ibrahim over alleged anti-party activities, while another executives passed vote of confidence in him.
Thefrontrank reports that on Thursday, May 9, 2024, executives and members of APC in Igbotako Ward II, at an emergency meeting, passed vote of confidence in Ibrahim.
Ibrahim, who is from Igbotako Ward 2, is representing Ondo South and a governorship aspirant in the April 20, APC primary.
The Senator is in court challenging the outcome of the party’s governorship primary conducted on April 20 in the state.
No fewer than 55 members of the party including the Local Government and Ward executives signed the resolution of the party at the meeting of Thursday, May 9, 2024 where a vote of confidence was passed in Ibrahim.
The local government party executives who signed the resolutions are Otekaye Alana Sunday, Secretary; and Olowole Musa, Assistant Public Relations Officer of the party.
A statement issued at end of the meeting stated that members reviewed the party’s governorship primary which they described as “fraudulent”, saying no election took place in the ward and in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state on April 20, 2024.
The statement read in parts: “At the general meeting of Igbotako Ward 2 held today, Thursday 9th May, 2024 at 4pm, we reviewed the fraudulent election of Saturday 20th April, 2024 and resolved as follows;
“Members expressed shock at how the Governor Usman Ododo-led Committee came about the figures it allotted to contestants in the election.
“Members declared their unflinching support for Senator Jimoh Ibrahim in his pursuit of justice in court concerning the governorship primary of the party in which several wards and all aspirants were deprived of voting.”
However, in another letter dated Monday, May 13, 2024, signed by 16 members of the Igbotako Ward 11 executives, the Ward said Ibrahim was suspended “with immediate effect” over alleged insubordination and anti-party activities.
The letter reads: “We, the members of the APC Executive Committee of Igbotako Ward II in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, convened meeting on Monday, May 13th, 2024.
“During our meeting, we deliberated extensively on various issues affecting the progress and development of our party, notably indiscipline and insubordination among some members.
“We have found Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s actions and activities to be in violation of the party’s constitution, particularly his decision to sue the party as well as his anti-party activities.
“As such, we have resolved to take appropriate disciplinary action against him as outlined in the party’s constitution.
“Senator Jimoh Folorunso Ibrahim is hereby suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect for acts of insubordination and anti-party activities in accordance with Article 21, Section A of APC Constitution.
“It is worth recalling that the National Party Chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, met with all Ondo State governorship aspirants on April 25th, 2024, in Abuja.
“During the meeting, he urged them to cooperate with the party’s candidate and incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
“Despite this, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunso proceeded to sue the Governor and APC, blatantly disregarding party instructions.
“Additionally, he has engaged in anti-party activities by urging his supporters in Igbotako and Ondo State to join NNPP, claiming he will soon receive the gubernatorial ticket from them.
“Senator Jimoh has openly declared his intent to disrupt APC before leaving the party, as evidenced by his actions in the Federal High Court in Abuja and his derogatory remarks about APC in various media outlets.”