2019: APC crisis deepens as party chairman drags Oshiomhole, others to police

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kwara State has heightened as the Chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani has petitioned the State Commissioner of Police, Aminu Saleh over Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa’s visit to his office, where he paraded himself as the caretaker chairman of the party.

In a petition through his counsel, Abdulwahab Bamidele, a copy of which was obtained by DAILY POST on Monday, Balogun-Fulani said Bolarinwa’s visit was misguided and unlawful.

He stressed that he (Bolagun-Fulani) remains the authentic and legally appointed chairman of the party in Kwara.

The petition referred Saleh to an Interim Order of Injunction from the Kwara State High Court restraining Bolarinwa from showing off or parading himself as the caretaker chairman of the APC in the State.

Balogun-Fulani stressed that the Police Commissioner and his office were statutorily duty-bound to obey, respect and enforce the court order while it lasts, and must, therefore, desist from recognising Bolarinwa as caretaker chairman of the party.

He explained that Bolarinwa’s continued display of himself as caretaker chairman of Kwara APC is a flagrant disobedience of court order, which he said, amounts to contempt of court.

The APC Chairman alleged that Bolarinwa’s visit to Saleh was an attempt to drag the Police Commissioner’s office into flouting order of the court, which he described as a wanton disregard to the law of the country.

He, therefore, urged the Police boss to be guided in his future dealings with Bolarinwa and avoid any attempt to unduly drag his office into supporting, assisting, encouraging and or aiding any form of disrespect or disobedience to lawful order of the court.

Balogun-Fulani stressed that he, Secretary of the party, Prince Christopher Tunji Ayeni and other State officers were properly and legally elected as executive members of the Kwara APC on 19 May, 2018 and were consequently sworn into their respective offices for a period of four years.

He added that they have been performing their functions since the time of their election till date.

The Kwara State High Court had on 1 August, 2018 ordered Bolarinwa and other members of the caretaker committee to stop parading themselves or perform any function or duty specified for members of the State party’s executive committee.

Part of the petition reads, “We write you on the above caption on the instruction of Hon Ishola Balogun-Fulani, Hon. Christopher Tunji Ayeni (who are respectively the Kwara Chairman and Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as well as other members of the Kwara Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, (here after called our clients).

“Our clients have instituted suit No: KWS/292/2018 before the Kwara State High Court of Justice, Ilorin as claimants against Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and 5 other persons of which Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa is the 6th Defendant as a challenge to the purported appointment of Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa and other so-called members of the Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Kwara State on the ground of the baselessness for the appointment of any Caretaker Committee for All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kwara State after our clients were duly elected.”