APC chieftain blames Buhari for Edo, Osun losses

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, John Mayaki, has blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for the loss of his state to the Peoples Democratic Party and the defeat of the incumbent Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, on Saturday’s governorship election.

Mayaki alleged that Buhari’s negligent management of party activities and ‘suicidal’ tolerance of anti-party activities within the ranks has been responsible for the party’s recent struggles and defeat.

According to Mayaki, President Buhari abandoning his obligations as the party’s leader who ought to be spearheading efforts to unite the ranks, enforce loyalty and expand political control had brought the party to the point of losing an election where its candidate was the incumbent.

He, however, said President Buhari’s non-interference through the infamous ‘federal might’ represented a good development for the country’s democracy.

The Chairman of the Media Council of the Edo APC in the 2020 governorship election warned that unless the President changed his approach to party issues, it might complicate the party’s chances in the 2023 elections.

He said, “The anti-party activities of top ranking APC members, governors and ministers under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is to blame for the electoral misfortune of the party in Edo and Osun states.”

“Poor reward system of the party and that of the president, if not checked, could impact negatively on the party just as the “I don’t care attitude” of Mr. President as a party man. The president is the leader of the party and he doesn’t appear concerned if the party collapses under his watch.”

“In Edo State, we have a deformed Assembly lacking the inclusion of the majority because duly elected members are yet to be inaugurated. Mr. President has shown no serious concern about this dangerous development, despite the fact that the affected people are all members of the party he leads.”

“Under President Buhari, the APC governors worked against the party in Edo State similar to how figures in his cabinet have been fingered in the loss of Osun State. But Mr. President won’t lift a finger to either reprimand these party saboteurs, instead, he signals tolerance that further emboldens them.”