Ogun APC bans ‘unauthorised meetings’ ahead of LG election

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has placed a ban on “unauthorised and sectional meetings” by aspirants or their supporters ahead of the local government election in Ogun state.

The election is slated for November 16.

In a statement on Tuesday, Yemi Sanusi, chair of the APC in Ogun, said: “The party has absolute control over how it will prepare for the elections”.

Sanusi said the state executive committee has observed that some individuals were convening meetings with potential aspirants. 

“The party will exercise the full wrath of its disciplinary powers to punish any parallel or unauthorised meetings that undermine our strategy for the elections,” he said.

“The party is also aware of its power to screen out any aspirant who does not conform to the party and its ideals.

“Elections are an organised and regulated civic activity, with political parties as frontline regulators of the process.

“Nigerian electoral law does not permit independent candidates, so in the coming local government elections, APC will be the contestant, not any individual candidate, regardless of that candidate’s perceived political status.

“The party has absolute control over how it will prepare for the elections.

“While we respect the right of party members to meet freely, the overall interest of the party outranks any individual interest.

“As such, all preparations for the forthcoming local government elections must be uniform and organised, under the direction of the party’s formal leadership in the state and in line with the party constitution.

“Only the party chairman or a person designated by him can call such meetings. Not aspirants or their allies.”