Sources within the party told SaharaReporters that the governor instructed the Nigeria Police Force in the state to arrest the protesting members after demonstrations broke out over what party insiders described as attempts by top party leaders to alter the list of affirmed executives produced during the congresses.
More than 50 members of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State are currently facing arrest after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq reportedly ordered security agencies to clamp down on party members protesting the alleged manipulation of results from the recently concluded ward and local government congresses.
Sources within the party told SaharaReporters that the governor instructed the Nigeria Police Force in the state to arrest the protesting members after demonstrations broke out over what party insiders described as attempts by top party leaders to alter the list of affirmed executives produced during the congresses.
The congresses were conducted across the state to produce party executives at the ward and local government levels ahead of the submission of the official list to the national headquarters of the APC.
According to party insiders, the protests erupted after members discovered alleged discrepancies between the results affirmed at the congress venues and the lists reportedly being compiled for submission to the party leadership in Abuja.
Sources said the protest embarrassed the governor and exposed what they described as desperate attempts by loyalists within the administration to doctor the outcomes of the congresses.
Over the weekend, angry party members stormed the private residences of the state APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, and the party Secretary, Alhaji Mustapha Ishowo, accusing them of attempting to overturn results that had already been openly affirmed in the presence of security operatives and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Party chieftains who spoke to SaharaReporters alleged that individuals loyal to Governor Abdulrazaq tampered with the list of executives across several local government areas in the state.
They said Asa and Ifelodun local government areas were among the worst affected areas.
According to sources, the list of executives in more than eight wards in Asa Local Government Area was allegedly altered after the congresses had concluded.
The affected wards were identified as Otte/Ballah; Efue/Berikodo; Sosoki/Yowere; Ogele; Budo-Egba; Laduba/Sapati; Okeweru; and Okeso wards.
A party insider familiar with the situation said the results originally affirmed during the congress were allegedly replaced with new names believed to be loyal to the state government.
Following the governor’s directive, the Nigeria Police Force was said to have immediately mobilised officers to begin arresting those involved in the protests.
Sources disclosed that the Kwara State Commissioner of Police deployed the Deputy Commissioner in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to coordinate the arrests.
As of the time of filing this report, SaharaReporters gathered that at least five persons had already been arrested, with most of them coming from Asa Local Government Area.
A source from Asa who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation revealed that the APC ward chairman in Ogbondoroko/Reke ward had already been taken into custody by the police.
Others reportedly arrested include the local government Supervisory Councillor for Health and Works, Mallam Jimoh Razaq.
According to the source, the crackdown has created fear among other party officials in the area.
“All others, including the party’s LGA chairman, secretary, women leader and youth leader, are currently in hiding,” the source told SaharaReporters.
“The police have been calling many of us repeatedly with different numbers, but nobody wants to answer because of fear of being arrested.”
The source added that members believe the state government is targeting Asa Local Government Area to intimidate others across the state.
“The whole idea is to use Asa as a scapegoat,” the source said.
“Once they succeed in intimidating Asa, they know all other local governments would fall for their shenanigans.”
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Asa Local Government Area, Alhaji Shehu Yahaya Amasa, has removed five members of the council’s executive from office with immediate effect.
Those affected include the Supervisor for Works, Land and Housing, Abdulrasaq Olarewaju Jimoh; the Supervisor for Health and Medical Services, Abdulraheem Muhammed Elere; Special Adviser on Education, Muhammed Nuhu; Special Adviser on Special Duties, Yusuf Tope Mahmud; and Special Adviser on Youths, Muritala Sodiq Tiro.
The council chairman said the officials were removed for allegedly bringing the name of the local government council into disrepute.
Alhaji Amasa stated that the decision to relieve them of their duties takes immediate effect.
However, party members who spoke with SaharaReporters suggested that the dismissals may be linked to the internal crisis within the APC in Kwara State following the disputed congress results.
