APC chairmanship not reserved for Oshiomhole alone – Ajimobi

The chairman of the publicity sub-committee of the APC National Convention Committee (NCC) and Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, says the position of national chairman of the party is still open to contest despite the endorsement of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ajimobi said this yesterday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the activities of Governor Mohammed Badaru -led convention committee ahead of June 23 national convention, where a new set of national officers would be elected.

“Talking about the President endorsement of Adams Oshiomhole, I believe that, yes, the President has endorsed but it doesn’t preclude other people from declaring to contest. It is a democracy and everybody is open to declare.

“I think everybody has a right to declare and once they declare, we go through the convention and we choose whoever won. So, it is very competitive and you will still see in the coming days, some people will declare their interest.”

The governor, who said the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu-led reconciliation committee was working “quietly” to resolve various issues bedeviling the APC, voiced optimism that some of those who had approached courts because of the fallout of the congresses would withdraw their cases.

“You will see a lot of people moving round and talking, quietly with the Asiwaju group. So, reconciliation is a work in progress. I believe the Asiwaju team, they are working very effectively and reporting to the President,” he said.

Governor Ajimobi said the struggle for positions during the just concluded state congresses, the violence that trailed the exercise and the disagreements witnessed showed the interest people had in the APC and the level of democratization it had witnessed.