A group of stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, have called for an end to the alleged “dictatorship” and “subversive” leadership tactics by the party leaders, including Abdul Ganiyu Lawani (aka Abu Millionaire) and Hon. Eric Okaka.
The group, known as “Axis-Two Stakeholders”, on Saturday, convened a meeting to address growing concerns over the party’s management, citing issues such as lopsided appointments and misplaced adoptions for elective offices.
The allegations has it that both Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Lawani and Hon. Eric Okaka, two top officials of the APC in Owan East, were accused of hijacking the party’s functions.
Sources indicate that Abdul Ganiyu Lawani has been unilaterally determining party patronage and appointments at all levels and blocking certain individuals from elective positions, declaring them “not vacant” even before primaries are organized by the party.
Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu is also accused of zoning the House of Representatives ticket to his native Warrake zone where several local, state and federal positions are domiciled, and declaring the House of Assembly seat as not vacant, sparking controversy and skirmishes among party members.
The conveners have made several demands, including upholding the joint ticket of Ernest Aitalegbe and Alaba Imooye for the upcoming local government elections and broader inclusivity in decision-making.
The group’s convener, Engr. Owu Festus, defended their actions as a “struggle for truth” aimed at saving the party from internal decay and resentments that could become costly for the party at the 2027 polls if not properly managed.
The APC leadership has reportedly suspended some party members who spoke out against the attitude of Abdul Ganiyu Lawani and Eric Okaka.
According to a party chieftain who craved for anonymity, “how can people hold a session to agitate their concerns only to be met with suspension without any attempt being made to discuss with them, with a view to allaying their fears?
“What sort of desperation would warrant a sitting member of the House of Assembly to embark on an illegal mobilization of the party’s executives in the two wards of Otuo to issue an overnight suspension letter on two party chieftains, without going through the party’s established rules and guide in suspending erring members.
“Were these suspended members ever summoned to appear before a committee to respond to allegations against them if there were any? It is this type of desperate attitude and illegality that lead to internal disconnect in a party thereby allowing the opposition to leverage on such avoidable loopholes created?”
“This boisterous and ’emperornic’ attitude is unacceptable, especially in an election year where all hands are expected to be on deck.”
The group has appealed to party members to weigh their actions on the “scale of truth” and work towards a more unified Owan East APC, urging sincere members of the party to remain undaunted in the face of persecution being unleashed by those that have become known for their merchandise attitude in politics, where highest bidders are given offices to occupy, even when such individuals do not possess notable leadership qualities and capaciy.t
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