President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday heightened tension within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after he met with Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Ogun State Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Amosun is having running battles with the APC national leadership under the control of Adams Oshiomhole over succession issue.
His preferred candidate, Akinlade, lost the Ogun APC governorship ticket to Dapo Abiodun, prompting the former to defect to APM.
With Amosun vowing to ensure that APM wins the Ogun governorship election, members of the ruling party were stunned when President Buhari received Akinlade at the State House on Sunday.
A source in the Abiodun camp told Qed.ng that the ruling party’s governorship candidate felt betrayed by the President.
Mr Abiodun is said to still be hurting from the reception Buhari granted Amosun and National Chairman of APM, Yusuf Dantalle, at the Presidential Villa December 24, 2018.
That visit was to present a letter by APM endorsing Buhari for a second term as governor.
Former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, on December 28 led Abiodun to Aso Rock to counter Amosun.
Pictures of Buhari lifting Abiodun’s hand were released to pacify aggrieved APC members across the country.
This online newspaper learnt that it was, therefore, another blow when pictures of Buhari smiling after his meeting with Amosun and Akinlade were circulated on Sunday.
Reacting to the growing discontent, the Presidency reacted by saying Buhari will campaign for APC and all its candidates in the forthcoming elections.
Defending the reception given to the APM candidate, Buhari, in a statement signed by his media aide, Garba Shehu, said he will not decline courtesy calls or offers of support from citizens including candidates flying the flags of other parties.
“There is no doubt that the President has no competition here in terms of popularity in the coming elections. But the more support he gets, the wider the margin of victory there will be.
“So please let there be no confusion about this. President Buhari is APC.
“He will campaign for all APC candidates, but he welcomes support and endorsements,” the statement said.
