Buhari’s Visit: Balogun Fulani-led APC demands recognistion of Omotoshe, other court-backed candidates

STORIES BY MUMINI ABDULKAREEM

Ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Ilorin on Monday, the court backed Ishola Balogun-Fulani led All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state has urged the President to hand over the party’s flags to its governorship candidate, Hon. Kayode Abdulwahab and other candidates that emerged on its platform.
Balogun-Fulani, in a statement said that they expect President Buhari as a man of integrity who has demonstrated respect for the rule of law on several occasions, to heed their call because their positions had been recognised by a court of competent jurisdiction.
He said that to do otherwise would not portray the party in good light before the court and the general public.
The APC chairman added that it is on record that a court of competent jurisdiction had on September 19, 2018 delivered judgement on the controversy that surrounded the status of APC leadership in the state.
“In that judgement, which is yet to be set aside by a higher court, the court upheld our position to the effect that the purported dissolution of our executive committee was illegal, and that the only state executive of APC in the eyes of the law is that one led by my humble self, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani.
“Following from that judgement is also the fact that the only recognized candidates of our party during this coming elections are those who came through our executive…
“Therefore, we expect that as the president hands over the party’s flags to candidates on Monday, they should be to those who have legal ground to represent APC in the election, starting with Hon. Abdulwahab Kayode and down the line.
“To do otherwise will not portray our dear party in good light before the court, which will still look into the matter and the general public who will vote during the elections. “The latest decision of the court on the case of Kashamu vs Adebutu and leaders of the PDP is a good example to guide our party in the present circumstance”, he said.
The APC chairman, who maintained that the party remains the best for the country, called on Nigerians and especially Kwarans to cast their vote APC candidates across board, He said Buhari deserves a second term to consolidate on the giant achievements he has recorded.

…again, Kwara PDP raises alarm, says APC distributing party’s vests to hired thugs

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kwara state chapter has said the party has uncovered plot by the APC stalwarts to distribute PDP vest they have printed to some hoodlums hired to unleash terror on innocent residents.
The State publicity secretary of the party, Tunde Ashaolu raised the alarm in a statement made available to newsmen in Ilorin on Saturday.
He said this is being planned to create the erroneous impression that the perpetrators of the planned attack on residents are PDP members.
He recalled that the party had at a press briefing about a fortnight ago alerted the public to plots by APC leadership in the state to get some PDP members arrested on trump up charges.
Ashaolu added: During the press conference address by our party’s state chairman we listed seven top members of our party who have been slated for arrest on trumped up charges in order to intimidate the party.”
He asked Nigerians to prevail on the security operatives not to be used for political vendata, pointing out that his party has been engaged in campaigns for long now without any untoward incident.
Ashaolu statement partly reads: “We want to draw the attention of the public to plot by members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to rope and get prominent members of our party arrested on trump up charges before the date of Mr President’s visit to the state.
“Information at our disposal indicates that APC stalwarts have concluded plans to distribute vests with PDP inscriptions to some thugs hired to unleash terror on innocent residents.
“Top on the list of our party’s leaders penciled down for illegal arrest are the north and central senatorial chairmen of the PDP, Alhji Isiaka Oniwa and Alhaji Jimoh Adesina respectively. Others include the Director General of the Mandate ABS Constituency Office, Ilorin, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, Mr Taju Alabi, Alhaji Oba Ajara, Alhaji Alfa Dembo, Barr. Lanre Daibu, Hon. Isiaka Magaji, Alhaja Sarat Adebayo, among others.
“We want the whole World to know that none of our members slated for arrest prior to Mr President’s visit has committed any offence known to the law which could precipitate their arrest. Leaders and members of our party are peace loving and law abiding citizens who cannot hurt a fly let a whole President of the country.
“As at today, the discontentment that greeted the APC’s gubernatorial primaries in the state is still festering.