Oki also warned that any misstep in the conduct of primary elections may cause a total reversal of fortunes for the APC in Lagos State.
Former Vice Chairman of Lagos chapter of the All Progressive Congress, Fouad Oki is blowing hot ahead of the state primaries saying the party is sitting on a keg of gunpowder.
Oki, who is currently a factional leader of the party in Lagos, has written Adams Oshiomhole led National Working Committee, NWC, of the APC ahead of the state primaries scheduled for Wednesday, September 12, 2018.
In a strong worded letter published on TheCable, Oki said the Oshiomhole led APC 'has been said to have engendered the incineration of all that is decent and legal within the Party structure in Lagos State.'
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The politician also informed Oshiomhole that 'as things are, the conduct of the impending primaries may either diffuse or detonate the keg of gunpowder,' whicih Lagos state APC is sitting on.
Oki also warned that any misstep in the conduct of primary elections may cause a total reversal of fortunes for the APC in Lagos State.
Read Fouad Oki's letter to Oshiomhole led APC
“We believe you are aware of the fact that the majority of the Party members in Lagos State are aggrieved (justifiably so) with the attitude of the National Body in ensuring the enthronement of illegality, unconstitutionality and impunity as regards Lagos State.
"In fact, it has been said that the National Executive you lead has engendered the incineration of all that is decent and legal within the Party structure in Lagos State.
“Therefore, there are no truer words than acknowledging that in Lagos State the Party is sitting on a keg of gunpowder. As things are, the conduct of the impending primaries may either diffuse or detonate this keg of gunpowder.
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"In this regard, any misstep in the conduct of primary elections may cause a total reversal of fortunes for the Party in the State. It is our sincere prayer that the Party will not come to ruins under your stewardship. However, this largely depends on the doing of the National body under your leadership.
“We also know that you are aware that as at the time of writing the instant letter, there are, at least, 3 (three) cases in court challenging the validity of the illegally held Ward, Local Government Area and State Congresses held in Lagos State on the basis of 57 Local government Areas and 377 Wards contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, our extant Party Constitution and the Party Guidelines. For the avoidance of doubt, the cases are.
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“Sir, in view of the fact that we remain the members of the only legally elected Party organs in Lagos State, we deem it of utmost importance to draw your attention to the need for the National Body to shed the toga of injustice and take sincere steps geared towards setting our great Party on a path devoid of conflicts and intra-party wrangling. This is particularly so in view of the impending primary elections in preparation for the general elections.
“Sir, as regard the conduct of primaries, rather than carrying on in a manner that can only spell doom for the Party and expose it to avoidable litigation, we advise that the Party must first of all set machinery in motion to have a harmonized and updated membership register at all the wards in Lagos State, at worst, from both sides of the divide.
“We make bold to say that at the moment, our great Party cannot boast of a credible detailed membership register in Lagos State. Without the detailed, updated and genuine membership register, you will agree with us that the Party has prepared a fertile ground for a rigged primary election designed to favour some elements within the Party hierarchy whose primary drive is to destroy the good name of our great Party.
“More importantly, in conducting the primary elections, the National Secretariat cannot afford to accord any recognition to any person purportedly elected through the illegally conducted Ward, Local Government Area and State Congresses that are subject of the aforementioned pending court cases. If this is done, any primary election conducted in Lagos State will be void ab initio; the cause will be illegal. As the saying goes, no legal right can arise from an illegal cause,” the letter read.