Kwara APC Rift Widens as G15 Alleges Intimidation, Vows to Sustain Resistance
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Kwara APC Rift Widens as G15 Alleges Intimidation, Vows to Sustain Resistance
By Kaosara Olayemi Oladimeji
The lingering crisis in the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has taken a fresh turn as the Kwara G15 Movement accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of allegedly intimidating and inducing party members to abandon the group.
The aggrieved APC stakeholders, however, insisted that they would not back down from what they described as the struggle to restore internal democracy, consultation and inclusiveness in the affairs of the ruling party.
In a statement jointly signed by 14 leaders of the movement, including Senators Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, Saliu Mustapha, Yisa Oyelola Ashiru and Suleiman Sadiq Umar, Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki-Gambari and other chieftains, the group thanked its supporters for remaining loyal despite what it termed sustained pressure.
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The G15 alleged that several of its members had been promised appointments and financial benefits, while others had been subjected to intimidation and blackmail in a bid to weaken the movement.
According to the group, such actions had only reinforced its determination to continue its campaign within the party.
The statement read, “Some have been offered financial inducements, appointments and other personal benefits. Others have faced intimidation, blackmail and various forms of coercion calculated to weaken their resolve.”
It added that the movement remained committed to ensuring that the voices of ordinary APC members were respected and that no individual would be allowed to override the collective will of party faithful.
The group also accused the governor of attempting to foist unpopular candidates on the party, describing the alleged move as unacceptable.
While insisting that it remained committed to peaceful and lawful political engagement, the G15 said it would continue to explore every democratic means available to challenge what it called an “undemocratic arrangement.”
The stakeholders further claimed that the ideals of the 2019 Otó gẹ́ movement, which ended the People’s Democratic Party’s dominance in Kwara politics, had been abandoned by the present administration.
According to them, the political movement that brought the APC to power remained alive and would once again mobilise party members to reclaim the principles of fairness, justice and popular participation.
The group urged its supporters across the state’s 16 local government areas to remain calm, united and disciplined while strengthening its structures at the ward and local government levels.
It expressed confidence that its campaign would ultimately prevail through democratic means.
