The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has issued a ban on unauthorized meetings organized by aspirants or their allies ahead of the Local Government elections scheduled for November 16.
This directive was issued by the state party chairman, Yemi Sanusi, in a statement released on Tuesday in Abeokuta.
Sanusi emphasized that unless the party officially announces or calls for a meeting, any person who organizes or attends a meeting related to the upcoming elections does so at their own risk.
He warned that disciplinary action will be taken against any parallel or unauthorized meetings that undermine the party’s strategy for the elections. The party also has the power to screen out any aspirant who does not conform to the party’s ideals.
The state Executive Committee had observed that certain individuals were calling for meetings among potential aspirants for the Local Government Elections in Ogun.
However, Sanusi stressed that elections are regulated civic activities and political parties are the primary regulators of the process. The Nigerian electoral law does not allow for independent candidates, so the APC will be the official contestant in the upcoming elections, not any individual candidate regardless of their perceived political status.
Sanusi emphasized that the party has complete control over its preparation for the elections. While the party respects the right of its members to freely meet, it believes that the overall interest of the party is more important than individual interests.
Therefore, all preparations for the Local Government elections must be uniform and organized under the leadership of the party’s formal leadership in the state. Only the party chairman or a person designated by him can call such meetings, not aspirants or their allies.
