War in APC over election funds
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is embroiled in yet another crisis as a result of recommendations by its National Vice Chairman, Northwest, Salihu Lukman, that the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, be removed from their positions.
Lukman had stated on Friday that religious balance was necessary given the Muslim-Muslim presidency of Aswáju Bola Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima.
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He added that Adamu should be replaced with a Christian and Omisore should be replaced because his election had divided the Osun State party chapter.
“In addition to replacing the National Chairman, it is necessary to acknowledge that the case of Senator Iyiola Omisore, National Secretary of the party, has become a major source of contention in Osun State.
“Unfortunately, rather than serving as a unifying factor for the party leadership in Osun State, Omisore is more of a divisive factor, which may have contributed to APC’s loss of the 2022 governorship election to a political mediocre whose only qualification in politics may appear to be comic dancing ability.
“In order to save Osun State and restore it to its former national political standing, Omisore must resign as National Secretary of APC and a new unifying National Secretary must be elected.
“Beyond Omisore, similarly, any member of the party’s National Working Committee who is not a unifying leader in his or her state should be replaced,” Lukman had advised.
However, in an interview with Africa Independent Television (AlT) on Tuesday, March 14th, Lukman allegedly went on to accuse Omisore of mismanaging funds allocated for the most recent election for governor of Osun State.
Omisore retaliates
Omisore’s attorneys, Lords Temple, have sent a letter to Lukman demanding a retraction of the libellous statement and an apology to be published in two major newspapers and several online news outlets within 48 hours, as well as “the payment of the sum of N500 million as damages for malicious statement against our client.”
In the demand notice signed by Gboyega Oyewole, the APC national secretary’s attorneys stated, “Our instruction is that during an interview on Africa Independent Television (AlT) on March 14, 2023, which was published in multiple online news blog, social media platforms, television stations, and news media, you made a libellous and defamatory statement of and about our client.
“In the aforementioned interview, you defamed our client, Senator Lyiola Omisore, by using the following terms:
“‘And this is where we are, which is partially responsible for some of the unhealthy growth in the party.
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“‘For example, Osun State, which is part of the reason why I stated that the National Secretary has failed in terms of stabilising Osun and uniting the people.
“‘Part of the problem is that I am aware that the party gave some campaign funds to Osun, which were handled by the National Secretary. To some extent, he may have mismanaged the funds, but more importantly, he is not accountable to anyone, so you must initiate the process of accountability.’
“‘Our client has informed us that your statement is not only false, deceptive, and devoid of factual support, but it is also malicious in all material respects.
“‘According to our client, it is a deliberate attempt to tarnish his image and political standing as a prominent leader in Osun State, the South-West geopolitical zone, and Nigeria as a whole.
“It is important to reiterate that the false allegation made against our client in your statement dated March 14, 2023 is false in all respects, as our client was neither given money to prosecute the Osun State governorship election nor did he mismanage the non-existent campaign funds.
“‘It is beyond a shadow of a doubt that your statement and publication were a political ploy designed to impugn the reputation and integrity of our client and unjustifiably and unjustifiably assassinate his character in the eyes of right-thinking citizens.
“‘Our client has consequently instructed us to request a retraction of your libellous statement and publication and an apology to be published in two major newspapers and several online news outlets within 48 hours of the delivery of this letter, as well as the payment of the sum N500 million only in damages for malicious statement against our client,'” the letter reads.
Omisore stated that if Lukman did not comply within the specified time frame, his attorneys would be compelled to file a lawsuit against him for exemplary damages for damaging falsehood and malicious statement.
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