There is widespread anger in the strongholds of President Muhammadu Buhari as furious members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) begin to express concern that the party might lose the next general elections, following the crisis in at least 19 State Chapters of the party precipitated by Adams Oshiomhole, the new National Chairman of the party.

“He is destroying the APC. The party is on the verge of not fielding candidates for many important offices following the chairman’s hijack of the screening process,” said one worried party chieftain.

Oshiomhole has led an onslaught against serving governors, and new aspirants in the name of “impeaching Bukola Saraki” and in the process creating anger amongst party members who have been denied the opportunity of expressing their democratic choices. So far Oshiomhole has ensured that Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is denied a second-term ticket, which analysts say may affect the chances of the party in the state. There are fears that Adamawa Governor Jibrilla Bindow may suffer the same fate as Oshiomhole clears the path for Aisha Buhari’s younger brother.

“We are courting the anger of the people, who are watching. The PDP behavior is what we are replaying and the fear is that we might be punished,” said the source.

Party leaders from various states, especially in the North, told this writer that APC has never had it so bad. “Not even (Ex-President Goodluck) Jonathan or the PDP has done the kind of damage to the APC like Oshiomhole has done. For the first time since the APC was founded, members are openly questioning the party leadership and Buhari himself,” one of them said.

“Adams (Oshiomhole) seems determined to destroy Buhari’s re-election prospects in 2019. He is attacking and denigrating the party leaders that have been Buhari’s most loyal backers. He is favouring disloyal elements, many of whom are political lightweights in their states. He set aside the reports of the screening committee and has unilaterally disqualified aspirants in favour of incumbent members of the National Assembly.

“His moves have created tensions in many states. Members in Buhari’s core states have never been this disenchanted and disillusioned,” the APC chieftain lamented.

According to him, “The defection of Saraki did not damage the APC because it meant the formal exit of people who had long left the party. Oshiomhole is doing more damage than the defectors because he is attacking loyal members who built the party and have stood by it since 2014.

“He is like Bamanga Tukur. Though the PDP got rid of Tukur it never recovered from the actions of Tukur. Oshiomhole’s actions will definitely have more disastrous consequences for the APC.”

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