Fayemi should quit APC if dissatisfied, says party National secretary, Basiru
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, has urged former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, to resign from the ruling party if he no longer believes in its ideals and direction.
Basiru also warned that the APC could invoke disciplinary measures against Fayemi over alleged anti-party activities following his recent criticism of the party.
The APC chieftain accused Fayemi of aligning with opposition elements to weaken the party ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State.
Fayemi, a founding member of the APC, had stated during an interview on State Affairs with Edmund Obilo that the ruling party was “losing its bearing and vision.”
The former Minister of Solid Minerals Development also lamented what he described as the absence of intellectual debate within the APC and criticised the increasing adoption of consensus arrangements during party primaries, arguing that the practice undermines democratic principles.
Reacting to the remarks, Basiru said Fayemi’s conduct no longer reflected that of a loyal party member.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, Basiru said, “We believe he should be courageous enough to formally resign from a party he appears to despise and wishes to see collapse, rather than playing the ostrich.
“We urge him to leave the party if he no longer believes in its ideals and join any political platform where he feels his ideas can be better expressed.
“We wish him well, but he should not remain in our party while wishing it bad luck. If he no longer believes in the APC, he should move elsewhere.”
Basiru further warned that the ruling party would not hesitate to impose sanctions if Fayemi continued engaging in activities considered detrimental to the APC.
“If he refuses to leave and continues with anti-party activities, the APC will not hesitate to invoke disciplinary measures against him,” he said.
The APC National Secretary argued that the timing of Fayemi’s criticism, coming at a period when the party was preparing for governorship primaries in Ekiti State, suggested an attempt to “demarket” the APC ahead of the election.
According to him, Fayemi should have explored the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms rather than publicly criticising the party.
Basiru also claimed that Fayemi’s comments appeared to support an earlier allegation by former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, that some APC members were collaborating with opposition figures against the ruling party.
“His statement further confirms what Rotimi Amaechi said about some individuals working with opposition elements against the APC.
“We also have it on good authority that Fayemi and some of his associates have been hobnobbing with opposition figures, especially ahead of the Ekiti governorship election,” he added.
Basiru further defended the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, describing Fayemi’s criticism of the policies as either “ill-informed or mischievous.”