Banire, Others Lose Out As Fouad Oki Emerges Factional Chairman

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Some members of the APC faction believed to be backed by the National Treasurer of the APC, Barrister Muiz Banire, officers of the party at the national level and some State Assembly members may have lost out in the power play in Lagos State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that this followed the outcome of the congress held on Saturday where two factional state chairmen emerged. One of the factions was backed by the National leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Almed Tinubu, the Governor of Lagos, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode and other chieftains of the party in the State.

However, after the conclusion of the Congress by both factions and leaders emerged, investigations revealed that most residents and majority of party members tend to align themselves with Tinubu’s faction.

Mr. Banire and his supporters organised their own congress at Airport Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, where state leaders emerged on the same day that Asiwaju Tinubu and Governor Akinwumi Ambode held their own with their supporters at party’s secretariat at Acme Road in Agidingbi, Lagos.

The congress has confirmed that the protracted crisis between Asiwaju Tinubu, his former Commissioner,  Banire and his other aggrieved loyalists  had not been resolved.

However, the crisis has fictionalised the APC in the state, unlike in the past when the Lagos APC was known to have  strong internal mechanism to resolve any disagreement.

While Asiwaju Tinubu’s faction produced Alhaji Tunde Balogun as the chairman of the party in the state, Banire’s faction had Mr. Fouad Oki as their chairman with other executives elected in both camps.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that apart from the backing for Mr. Oki from Banire, it was learnt that there was a cabal in the presidency and the National Chairman Chief John Oyegun’s party NWC members were alleged to be supporting them.

It was gathered that despite the popularity of the Asiwaju Tinubu’s faction, the party’s NWC may endorse and recognise the Banire faction at the National level.

A chieftain of the party had alleged that the faction was being aided by the National Working Committe due to the frosty relationship between Asiwaju Tinubu and Chief Oyegun on the running of the party.

It was also gathered that Oyegun have not forgiven Tinubu for the role he played during the tenure elongation of Oyegun NWC that was frustrated by Asiwaju Tinubu. It was said that Oyegun may want to pay Tinubu back and recognise Banire’s faction before he leaves office as was the case of Governor Rochas Okorocha in Imo State.

However, some residents doubted if the party will take such step because of Asiwaju Tinubu’s influence in the Party.

“If they try it, then that will be the end of APC in Lagos State and the presidency will not support such in the overall interest of the party for the future” the party member said.

It was not certain what will happen as the party will begin the harmonisation of the lists from the states for the upcoming Congress of the party in June, 2018, when the tenure of Oyegun will end.