Crisis hits APC UK as factions head to court

The rumoured rancour in the top echelon of the ruling All Progressives Congress has extended to their United Kingdom chapter of the party owing to the recent development.
The Reflector Newspaper said it gathered that the party, which has been factionalized into three groups, has now ended up in court.
According to the newspaper’s investigation, trouble started when a group consisting of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria under the leadership of its then Chairman, Dr. Philip Idaewor, wholly transformed itself into the newly formed All Progressives Congress, UK chapter.
It was revealed that such single transformation was made possible because of the long-term relationship that exists between Idaewor and the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
This action marked the beginning of the end to the party in the United Kingdom as stakeholders across the legacy parties that merged to become APC UK were directly marginalised.
Concerted efforts made by various eminent Nigerians in the UK to broker peace and bring the faction together appear to have proved abortive.
A few months ago, Idaewor, who was believed to be a former classmate of Odigie-Oyegun, used his relationship with the National Chairman of the APC to get an approval to run the party in the United Kingdom.
This was seen by other stakeholders as nepotism and godfatherism at play and is said to have created rancour that has continued to blight the party in the UK.
According to a reliable source, Idaewor’s faction attempted to organise a meeting that could have led to a congress a few weeks ago, but the meeting was disrupted by some attendees who protested against his leadership style in handling the affairs of the party.
Part of their grouse, according to the source, is the fact that many notable stakeholders were not invited to the meeting.
This action, according to our source, led some attendees to question the motive of Idaewor for convening the meeting.
Just two days ago, another faction under the leadership of Ade Omole issued a press statement denouncing Idaewor’s planned congress.
In the statement, the Omole’s faction alleged that “many of the party members have long voiced out their fears about the attempt by certain elements within the party to engage in rigging during the purported congress, having witnessed the shoddy antecedent of Dr Idaewor in his days during the ACN era, where without holding a proper election, he made himself chairman.
“This new attempt to rig the convention would not be taken lightly. It is obvious to the discerning that this ‘launch’ is an attempt to side-track the convention and commence political cum administrative activities as APC UK without following due process. As we all know, democracy means giving all those eligible a chance to decide at the polls.”
When contacted, the Deputy Chairman of another faction under the leadership of Alhaji Garba Sani, Joseph Adebola. declined to comment.
According to Adebola, the matter is already in court and that Idaewor has been served with a Notice of an Injunction hearing, which will take place very soon.
Efforts by The Reflector to contact Dr Idaewor were unsuccessful as it was gathered that he has travelled to Nigeria in preparation for the “upcoming congress”.