APC crisis: Gov. Sule cautions party members against distraction as they prepare for Edo election

As the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares for off-cycle elections, particularly in Edo State, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has cautioned party members against unnecessary distractions.

This follows the recent crisis in the Benue State chapter of the party. Last week, the Benue State High Court restrained the APC National Working Committee from removing Austin Agada as the party’s state chairman. However, despite the court order, the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, inaugurated a seven-man Caretaker Committee for the party in the state, which has since deepened the crisis.

Governor Sule, who visited the APC National Chairman on Friday, insisted that Ganduje deserves full cooperation, especially as the party gears up for the Edo State election scheduled for 21 September 2024.

“Our National Chairman, Dr Ganduje, deserves respect and full cooperation, especially at a time like this,” said Sule. “In the next couple of weeks, we have an election in Edo. So, the chairman does not need to be distracted in any way so that we can go and win our election in Edo.”

According to him, only one of the five APC-governed states in the North Central region is experiencing a crisis. He advised critics to desist from causing confusion and instead support the party to ensure its victory in the forthcoming elections.

“One of the places we have issues is in the North Central. I am the Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum. And in the North Central, we have a state where there are issues, and we had extensive discussions on that. We want him, as well as the National Working Committee, to intervene and ensure we resolve those issues.

“The North Central region has five out of six APC governors. For that reason, we need to strengthen our zone. We cannot afford any kind of disagreement in our zone. I have no doubt that if there is any gentleman who can work to resolve this matter, it is a man who has held several positions: deputy governor, governor, chairman, and many other roles,” he emphasized.

In response, the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, appreciated the governor for his visit.

“We are so delighted to receive the Governor of Nasarawa State. I am very happy because this is the issue of the moment. When you come to a home with solidarity.

“We want our party to be a strong institution that will back the government and ensure internal democracy. The essence of the Progressive Institute we established is to give our party an identity. When you are looking for a medical doctor, you know where to find one. If you are looking for an accountant, it is also easy to find one. But politics is an environment with no boundaries.

“A politician must be someone of character, capacity, and capability. These are the qualities we want to entrench in our party constitution,” Ganduje stated.