APC AT WAR IN ONDO STATE: BATTLE AGAINST IMPOSITION

The APC in Ondo state seems to be battling with itself. This is despite the fact that they have to contend with the ruling PDP in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Some APC members in the state led by Tunji Abayomi are accusing the national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, of imposing a former governorship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, on the party. Tunji Abayomi has gone to the media on several occasions to criticize Tinubu. Tinubu also has come out to defend himself stating that he is not imposing any candidate. Rather, he is simply supporting a candidate and he is entitled to do that as a member of the party. The APC National chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, also said that Tinubu has the right to support any candidate of his choice.
MY TAKE
Nobody has the right to impose a candidate of his choice on the party. If that is what Tinubu is actually doing, then it should be discouraged. It could well be the case that what those opposed to Tinubu think is opposition is actually his influence on members of his party. It is well-known that Tinubu is a chieftain of the party. People also allude president Buhari's emergence as the APC flag bearer partly to Tinubu's support. Even within Africa, Tinubu's influence is acknowledged. Looking at his antecedents, even in the formation of the APC, he has clearly paid his dues. It wouldn't be surprising then if people in the APC voluntarily follow his dictates and choices (including his choice as governorship candidate of the party). In that case, it wouldn't be imposition. It should be allowed.
There is the argument that Tinubu is from Lagos state and not from Ondo state so he should not concern himself with who becomes governor. The fact is that since he is the "national leader" of the party, his interest goes beyond Lagos state. He had an interest in the elections wherein all the APC governors from the South West contested. He also had an interest in the presidential election. He tried to broker peace between former Borno state governor (and now factional PDP chairman) Ali Modu Sheriff and his successor, Kashim Shettima, before the former decamped from APC. So Tinubu's interest cannot be restricted to Lagos. He has the right to support anybody in any state. However, that must not include imposition.
The bottom line of this issue is that the party needs to put its house in order. They have formidable opponents. They have never controlled that state (not even its defunct parties) so its a tough one for them. Good thing the national leadership is wading into the crisis. A house divided against itself would definitely fall.