There are Indications that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has initiated moves to resolve the protracted crisis that engulfed its Lagos State chapter for some months now.
Sources within the party disclosed that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) dispatched Dr. Victor Oye, the National Chairman, few days ago for a trouble shooting mission to the warring factions in Lagos as a move aimed at finding a lasting solution to the crisis.
Oye’s visit, it was gathered, was also said to be the first leg of efforts to sensitise the party members and supporters on efforts being made to reposition the APGA in Lagos, the South West and nationwide for future elections at all levels.
Recently, the Lagos State executive of the party reportedly suspended its chairman, Kayode Alabi, over his alleged failure to call a meeting for a long time as well as purported issues of accountability.
In his place, Chief Ifeanyickukwu Akata, the Deputy Chairman, was appointed to step into Alabi’s shoes on acting capacity pending when the issues would be resolved.
However, both Akata and Alabi had reportedly been holding parallel executive and general meetings at the party’s secretariat in Ojuelegba and the National Stadium, Surulere, respectively, while an investigative committee set up to resolve the issues was said to have been rendered moribund.
Both the Akata and the Alabi’s groups were said to have forwarded their complaints to the National Executive Committee (NEC), which necessitated the fact finding mission of the National Chairman, Oye.
It was also gathered that during his visit to Lagos, Oye met with stakeholders of the party, especially the leaders from both the Akata and Alabi groups, who stated their grievances during discussions in a meeting which was held at the Trade Fair Complex, Lagos.
Oye, who also used the opportunity to woo market leaders in Lagos on their need to join and support APGA in Lagos State, reportedly appealed to the various groups to sheathe their swords for peace to reign, pledging that the National Executive Committee would look into the issues dispassionately for an amicable resolution.
Confirming the development, Akata disclosed that he dispatched a powerful team of leaders of his group who met with the National Chairman, adding that Alabi and his group were also fully represented during the discussions, which he said was cordial.
Akata added: “In as much as we support Dr Oye’s peace efforts, we are still not comfortable with the efforts of the suspended chairman to reposition the party in the state, which was not as fast as we had expected.
“Again, he is yet to clear himself on several allegations levelled against him by the state executive, and as such, he remained suspended until he does so.”
Akata maintained that his group expected the APGA National Executive to invite both warring groups for a dialogue to hear them out and apportion blames where necessary to ensure that lasting peace was restored to the Lagos chapter instead of making a blanket order on the matter.
However, efforts made to enable Alabi speak on Dr Oye’s peace mission was not successful as messages sent to him through his line were not responded to by press time.
It was gathered, however, that Alabi during the meeting, commended Oye for wading into the matter, stressing that there is no factions in of the party in Lagos and that what was happening was a normal family affair in any vibrant organisation.
