The Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Salihu Lukman, has spoken out in response to reports that he is on the verge of being expelled from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that he will not be “bullied into submission” by the Chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni or the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
According to an anonymous source quoted by a newspaper, Mr. Lukman had been “threatening the party’s unity” and had “disobeyed directives” by Mr. Buni. Mr. Lukman had reportedly also been accused of “working against” the party’s candidate during the recent gubernatorial elections in Edo State.
Reacting to these accusations, Mr. Lukman stated that he had “done nothing wrong” and that the party’s leadership was attempting to “silence” him. He emphasized that he was “not afraid” of being expelled from the APC, stating that he would “continue to speak out against injustices and undemocratic tendencies” in the party.
“If speaking out against injustice and fighting for the democratic principles upon which our party was founded is a crime, then I plead guilty,” Mr. Lukman said in a statement. “I refuse to be silenced by those who are more interested in maintaining their grip on power than upholding the values that we as a party supposedly stand for.”
Mr. Lukman’s comments follow a series of moves by the APC leadership to quell dissent within the party, including the dissolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the appointment of a caretaker committee to oversee its affairs.
While the move was welcomed by some members of the party, others have voiced concerns over the lack of transparency in the process and the potential for abuse of power.
Mr. Lukman is not the first party insider to speak out against the APC’s leadership. Last month, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, called for the resignation of Mr. Oshiomhole, citing his “failure” in leading the party to victory in several states.
The APC has yet to issue an official statement on Mr. Lukman’s status within the party.
