By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has apologised to two governorship aspirants of the party in Kwara State for their disqualification in the heat of last month’s primaries.
The aspirants, Mallam Saliu Mustapha and Hon. Mashood Mustapha were strangely disqualified in the heat of the primary election via announcements on Radio Nigeria. Idofian, Kwara State.
While Saliu only got to hear of his disqualification while voting was going on, Moshood got his own shocker a day before the primary election. The announcements were said to be the handiwork of a minister with clout over the federal government-owned radio station..
Oshiomohle in a letter he personally signed titled ‘ Apology For Wrong Disqualification’ dated October 30, 2018 said the duo were cleared for the direct primary election.
He noted that the National Working Committee (NWC) Screening Panel cleared them as governorship aspirants to contest in the election.
The APC National Chairman said the party leadership regretted the wrong announcement of their disqualification in the name of APC by unknown sources when voting was ongoing.
The letter particularly written to Hon. Moshood Mustapha reads: “ I write to formally apologise for the disinformation from unauthorized announcement of your disqualification during the recent Direct Primary Election conducted for the party’s governorship aspirants in Kwara state.
“Although, you were cleared by the National Working Committee (NWC) appointed screening panel as a governorship aspirant to contest the direct primary election, your disqualification was erroneously announced by unknown source when voting was midway.
“The incident of the governorship primary election and embarrassing mischief directed at your esteemed person by faceless individual in the name of the party is deeply regretted.
“The party regards you as an outstanding and loyal stakeholder and leader as we continue to unify and strengthen the party, particularly in Kwara State. I trust that this unfortunate incident will not in any way weaken your resolve to contribute and sustain your valuable support in the shared commitment and determination to collectively work with others to enthrone new political order in Kwara state 2019 general elections. “.
The two aspirants’ followers hold that they could have won the primaries but for the offensive radio announcement.
Saliu Mustapha in his reation said as a loyal party member who also as a true Muslim, he has left everything in the hands of God.
The development he said would not deter him from being a committed member of APC, moreso that he was one of the founding fathers of the party. Before 2014, he been a national officer of the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC)
Mashood Mustapha who reacted through his Director General, Mr Rahem Adedoyin said: “Hon Mashood Mustapha has been vindicated with the apology letter issued by the national chairman.
“He has accepted the apology in good faith and in the interest of APC, especially in Kwara where people are looking towards the party to liberate them.
“MM remains committed to the struggle he started few years ago with other progressive-minded team and will continue to work assiduously to ensure party victory in forthcoming general elections.”