Ahead of the forthcoming local government elections in Ogun State, the All progressives Congress, APC, has placed an embargo on sectional and unauthorised meetings within the party by aspirants or their allies, “until the Party announces or calls for meetings”.

In a public notice issued in Abeokuta  on Tuesday and signed by the State Party Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, the party maintained that “in the coming Local Government elections, APC will be the contestant, not any individual candidate regardless of that candidate’s backers or perceived political status. The Party has absolute control over how it will prepare for the elections.”

Consequently, according to the directive, “unless and until the Party announces or calls for meetings, any person organising or attending meetings concerning the forthcoming Local Government elections does so at his own peril. The Party will exercise the full range of its disciplinary powers to punish any parallel or unauthorised meetings that undermine our strategy for the elections. The Party is also aware of its power to screen out any aspirant who does not conform to the party and it's ideals.”

The full text of the statement reads: “The State Executive Committee has observed that certain persons have been calling for meetings of potential aspirants ahead of the Local Government Elections in Ogun State, scheduled for 16 November 2024.

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 backers or perceived political status. The Party has absolute control over how it will prepare for the elections.

“APC remains the dominant party in this State, occupying the Governor's seat, all senatorial seats, all federal constituency seats and a super majority in the House of Assembly. No member of the party, by any name and in any capacity can be more interested in victory in the Local Government elections, than the Party.

“Our Party constitution places the state chapter of the party under the leadership of the State Executive Committee and State Working Committee who operate under the leadership of the State Chairman. These organs run the party day-to-day, execute the Executive Committee's decisions, and organise primary elections for Local Government 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 preparation for the forthcoming Local Government elections must be uniform and organised, under the direction of the Party's formal leadership in the State. 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.

“Consequently, unless and until the Party announces or calls for meetings, any person organising or attending meetings concerning the forthcoming Local Government elections does so at his own peril. The Party will exercise the full range of its disciplinary powers to punish any parallel or unauthorised meetings that undermine our strategy for the elections. The Party is also aware of its power to screen out any aspirant who does not conform to the party and it's ideals.”