By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA – The acting National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank has said that the major problem with the party is its National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and not the partisan ambitions of some of its members.

Frank was reacting to media reports in which Chief Odigie-Oyegun was quoted as linking the various crisis in the party to political calculations of some APC chieftains ahead of the 2019 general elections.

APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Acting National Publicity Secretary Comrade Timi Frank

“What is happening is not about the national chairman but on the need to take control of the party ahead of 2019”, the chairman had explained in Sokoto while declaring open a three-day retreat for Kano State officials and stakeholders on the topic Political Party Management.

However, Frank in a statement issued Sunday in Abuja said, “Chief Oyegun has resulted to blackmail against party leaders across board who want him removed so as to secure favour from the presidency.”

The statement added; “It is confusing and contradicting when Oyegun said that all is well with the party and still went ahead to point accusing fingers that some persons want to take control of the party ahead of 2019.

“It will be a good thing for those persons who meant well for President Muhammadu Buhari and the party to take control and ensure victory for APC at any election than Oyegun, who has lost electoral value and without a mind of his own to continue displaying incompetency as our national chairman.

“Again, it is now clear that if there is anybody trying to hijack the party, that person is Oyegun who is being controlled by external forces and not the likes of our national leader Bola Tinubu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and others who worked tirelessly to ensure the victory of APC and still working to rescue the party before Chief Oyegun placed a price tag on it.

“I want to appeal to Mr. President again to heed to the earlier call of our national leader, Asiwaju Tinubu that Oyegun should step aside before it is too late. The slogan, Change begins with me must start from our party the APC”.