APC chairman begs aggrieved members, seeks unity

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, on Thursday apologised to aggrieved members over perceived wrongs during the party’s internal primaries, saying the National Working Committee takes responsibility for such actions.

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He stated this in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during the launch of the APC Campaign Office.

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Yilwatda appealed to aggrieved members who felt hurt, injured, prevented or excluded in any form to forgive the party and remain united ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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The APC national chairman said, “The responsibility extended beyond Oyo State. The committee that conducted the party’s primaries was constituted by the national leadership and, therefore, any mistake committed by it amounted to a mistake by the party.

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“This is not for Oyo State alone. Anywhere anybody made a mistake in a state, it is our mistake because the committee was set up by us and they are representing us.

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“If anybody is hurt, if anybody is injured, if anybody is prevented or excluded in any form or the other, we take responsibility. On TV, before Nigerians, we take responsibility for all that has happened. I appeal to everybody that we are sorry.”

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The chairman further urged members at polling units, wards and local government areas across the country to regard the matter as an internal family affair.

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Yilwatda assured all that the APC was taking Oyo State seriously because of its strategic importance and large voting population, second only to Lagos.

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In his address, the state APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, commended the party’s national chairman, Yilwatda, for fulfilling his promises to the state within two days.

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Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, thanked him for honouring the invitation to meet with governorship aspirants and stakeholders, saying, “The achievements recorded within the period surpassed what the stakeholders had been able to accomplish.”

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“The promises made when the national chairman invited the aspirants had now been fulfilled. We cannot thank you enough for what you have come to do. What you have achieved successfully in two days, we have not been able to accomplish,” Alli said.

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He, therefore, assured Yilwatda that the party in Oyo would continue to do the needful.

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The PUNCH reports that some aggrieved governorship aspirants in the state recently kicked against the party’s candidate in the state, which, according to the aspirants, was imposed on them.

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