EXCLUSIVE: How APC Internal Crisis Stalled Nomination, Screening of Fresh Commissioners in Kwara
There seem to be no end in sight to the crisis rocking the Kwara state All Progressives Congress (APC), as members of the Party in Ilorin South and Edu local governments fight dirty over replacement of Commissionership slot in the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration.
It could be recalled, that following the resignation of Hajia Saadatu Modibbo Kawu and Saba Yisa Gideon as commissioners, to contest in the last primaries of the APC, Ilorin South and Edu Local Government commissioners have not been replaced by Gov. AbdulRazaq, a development that is not unconnected with grievances and supremacy battle among ranks of the Party in the two local governments.
While Newscrescent media gathered reliably that the Governor is keen on returning Modibbo as a Commissioner, she had reportedly declined the offer as a way of showing her displeasure over the outcome of the Ilorin East/South House of Representatives primaries, which she is currently challenging at the Federal High Court.
Although, a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor – Rafiu Ajakaye on 31st October, 2022 revealed that the Governor has forwarded to the State House of Assembly the names of two nominees for the vacant cabinet slots for Ilorin South and Edu Local Government Areas, unusually, the statement did not mention the names of the nominees.
Sources within the Party in Ilorin South told News Crescent media that “Although the Governor did not consult the Party over Commissioner nomination, a lot of people are lobbying Sen. Khaira, the PPS to the Governor and other power brokers in this government to be the replacement for Modibbo but the Governor still prefers Modibbo.”
For Edu local government, Newscrescent gathered that the former commissioner- Yisa Saba Gideon, who is now APC candidate for House of Assembly, the TIC Chairman – Labasa and others are reportedly the one holding the Governor to ransom because of their disagreement with his choice of nominee from their local government.
According to NewsCrescent’ investigation, the names of Commissioner nominees announced by Ajakaiye was supposed to be read on the floor of the House of Assembly at its plenary of Tuesday November 1st, 2022, but the Governor instructed them to tarry a while because of a protest by the former Commissioner and the TIC Chairman who’s believed to mean more than TIC Chairman to the Governor in the underworld.
“The Governor is not decisive on the issue of commissionership in Edu this time, like during Kolo’s time. His choice of commissioner nominee is against the interest of the TIC Chairman and the House of Assembly candidate and that is why it is being delayed”, our source said.