By Lydia Akolade
The All Progressives Congress candidate in the just concluded general elections into the Akoko South West House of Assembly constituency 1, Honorable Gbogi Emmanuel has appealed to the State leadership of the party to reconsider the suspended members of the party in the interest of peace.
This is contained in an open letter addressed to the State Chairman of the party in Ondo State, Engineer Ade Adetimehin dated 10th May, 2023 and personally signed by Honourable Gbogi Emmanuel, titled Time for Unification.
According to Honourable Gbogi Emmanuel, APC will emerge stronger and more united from such experience if the suspended members are pardoned.
In his words “I Gbogi Emmanuel, the APC candidate in the March 18th, 2023 State House of Assembly election in Akoko South West Local Government Constituency 1 Oka-Akoko, write to implore you to embrace reconciliation mechanisms that will bring about lasting peace and love in our constituency and Akoko South West Local Government in general.”
“As you are aware, I lost the election, and there are allegations of conspiracy against me from some members of the party in Oke Oka because I am from Iwaro-Oka. Even the revered traditional stool and custodian of our valued culture was fingered and mentioned in this grand conspiracy. This was contained in a report and letter written to you by the Chairman of the party in our local government Mr. Mise, which is now in the public domain.
“I also got to know on social media and The Punch that the party has taken disciplinary action against some of these members who participated in anti-party activities that led to my loss in the election”
“While I appreciate the party’s effort to maintain discipline and order within the party, I urge you to temper justice with mercy. I implore you to seek alternative ways of ensuring unity in the party. This becomes indispensably imperative, as the local government and governorship elections are just a matter of months away.
“As a progressive to the core , the principal and immediate victim in the said conspiracy, I have had the cause to move on. And I wish the party to do same. I believe that the party must come together to build a virile, more united, and impregnable structure in Ondo State. This can only be achieved if we put aside our differences and work together for the good of the party.
It will be recalled that 31 members of APC across the wards in Akoko South West constituency 1 which included the serving House of Representatives member, Honourable Adejoro Adeogun and Honourable Olugbengba Omole , a serving member in the State House of Assembly were suspended for their anti party activities which cost the party electoral fortune in Akoko South West constituency 1 of Ondo State , the letter of their suspension was signed was signed by both the party Chairman in the local government Chief Sehinde Mishe and a respected leader of the party Rt Honourable Victor Olabimtan