APC chieftain denies working against party success

A former vice chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Fouad Oki on Friday denied rumours suggesting he was working against the party.

Oki had been rumoured to be working for an opposition party, Accord. He, however, said the claims were mere rumours.

“I don’t do things corner corner. I come out bold when I’m leaving the party. I will come out to say these are reasons for leaving if I want to leave. I am in APC,” Oki said on a radio programme ‘Morning Digest with Jimi Disu’ on Lagos Talks FM.

Prior to the APC Lagos governorship primary election, there were two factions of the party in Lagos. Oki was appointed the chairman of the second faction, while Tunde Balogun was the recognised chairman of APC in Lagos.

Both factions had different positions as regards who becomes the governor of Lagos State after the 2019 general election.

The leadership of the party supported the winner of the primary election Babajide Sanwo-Olu, against the re-election of the state governor Akinwunmi Ambode for re-election. The Oki led faction supported the governor.

The rancours in the party suggested a high level of dissatisfaction, which informed the fears that some aggrieved members working against the party at the elections.

But Oki said he was not working against the party to favour the opposition.

“I don’t have any business with Accord Party. At all. It is not about me. You must go back to my pedigree for you to understand my person,” Oki said.

Although, he admitted that opposition parties had approached him to leave the APC, but resisted because of his commitment to the party.

He did not mention which parties approached him to leave the APC.

He, however, said, “the essence of politics is conflict and our ability to resolve it. Even in a family, there will be a sibling rivalry. We are all from the APC larger family, but we will resolve it.”

Oki added that his focus is on helping the party emerge victors at the general elections.