14th January, 2011
Massive defections from the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Ogun State, may spell doom for the party. Members are threatening to decamp to other parties for alleged imposition of unpopular candidates.
P.M.NEWS investigations revealed that some members of the ACN are planning to dump the party and join Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, founded by former military head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari.
If the wishes of the majority of the members of ACN and some political observers in the state are not respected, many of them have decided to decamp.
The cause of the crisis in the ACN , P.M.NEWS gathered, was the adoption of Mr. Isiaka Abiodun Akinlade from Ipokia in Yewa as the party’s governorship candidate instead of the favoured and highly acceptable Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Akinlade was adopted on Wednesday by some leaders of the party. The man, who is presently a member of the House of Representatives; recently decamped to ACNÂ hails from Yewa.
According to some of the party leaders, “the cries of many in Ogun State now is ‘Yewa lo kan’, meaning it is the turn of Yewa to produce the governor. The man was favoured for that reason to be the sole candidate of the ACN.â€
One of the party leaders, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent this morning that since the adoption of Akinlade, the party secretariat has been receiving several threat calls and messages.
“I am very confused. Since the adoption of Akinlade, we have not slept. Though we have not pronounced the adoption openly, several people have been calling and some party members have threatening to quit the party.
“The candidate that the majority of the people wanted is Senator Ibikunle Amosun. But the Yewa agenda is the stumbling block. Considering what is happening now, the party leaders cannot announce the name, while we have been meeting severally over the issue,†the party leader stated.
Another top member of the ACN confided in our correspondent that the party is in a fix at the moment and prayed that God will see them through.
One of the decampees from the PDP, who was given the state assembly ticket, expressed his disappointment at the turn of events.
He said most of then joined the ACN because of the party’s manifesto and their belief in Senator Amosun
According to the decampee, who does not want his name mentioned, his group may follow Amosun to the Gen. Buhari-led CPC.
A source within the PDP camp told P.M.NEWS that the party saw Amosun as a big catch for the ACN, but it will be a big relief for the PDP if the ACN failed to field Amosun regarded as the most popular candidate for now.
He said the ACN might lose votes from its supporters, who might vote for the party because of the late Dipo Dina, adding that if the ACN should go ahead to field Akinlade, he will pose no threat to the PDP in Ogun.
A stalwart of the CPC also confirmed to P.M.NEWS this morning that the party may offer Amosun its ticket if the ACN could not recognise his potential.
— Biodun Onafuye/Ijebu-Ode