APC considers taking disciplinary action against governors Amosun, Okorocha and Yari

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) leaders are considering taking disciplinary action against several of its governors who have opted to support gubernatorial candidates from different parties because they did not get their way in the gubernatorial primaries.

During the APC's contentious primaries, several governors like Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State saw their hand-picked successors lose out to rival candidates. These candidates have subsequently decided to stand on other platforms and the governors are backing them against the official APC candidates.

In Zamfara State too, the APC is facing a serious crisis as Governor Abdulaziz Yari is considering leaving the party due to its controversial primaries. As of now, it is not yet clear if the governor or anyone else will stand in the Zamfara State gubernatorial elections as the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) said no primaries held there to select a candidate.

One senior APC official said: “We’re deeply troubled by the actions of these governors and other chieftains of the party toeing same lines as them. You will hear from us soon.

“Contrary to opinions currently held in some quarters, it is not true that the party is finding it difficult to move against the two governors and others like them. To tell you the truth, we have met several times to discuss their cases and as I speak to you, all major organs of the party are in agreement that something urgent must be done by the party to show the world that we will not tolerate such dissidence."

Adekunle Akinlade, Governor Amosun’s choice candidate, is now the flag-bearer of the Allied Peoples Movement in Ogun State, while Governor Okorocha’s son-in-law and preferred successor, Uche Nwosu, is the candidate of the Action Alliance in Imo State. Highly placed party sources said both the national working committee and other organs of the party have agreed that it is in the best interest of the APC to sanction the governors before the next general elections.

 “Specifically, it has been agreed that it is important that we address the cases of the governors of Ogun and Imo before the next general elections start. This will help boost the confidence of loyal party members in the leadership of the party and send across the right messages that we will not condone indiscipline from anybody, no matter how highly placed.

“That nobody is saying anything about how we intend to discipline them is because nobody has been authorised to comment on their issues for now. What is left is to decide on exactly what to do and once that is done, the APC will show how much it cherishes party discipline and loyalty, as those going about to say they are larger than life will soon be brought right back to life,” the party spokesman added.