Professor Adesegun Labinjo, the Chairman of the Committee of Diaspora Chairmen for the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asserted that the diaspora chapters have fostered strong relationships with the party over the years.
In a statement, Labinjo emphasized that for more than 13 years, the APC’s diaspora chapters have actively supported the party and its leadership.
In a recent announcement on October 31, APC spokesperson Felix Morka stated that the diaspora chapters would be reclassified as “support groups or associations.”
Labinjo expressed his disapproval of this reclassification, arguing, “For years, these groups have been recognized as the APC’s diaspora chapters.”
“This is evident from the successful events and congresses held in cities like Chicago in 2013 and New York in 2015, which saw participation from party officials visiting from Nigeria”, he said.
He highlighted the crucial role that these diaspora chapters played during and after President Bola Tinubu’s election, noting their considerable investment of time, energy, and resources in campaigning for his victory.
Labinjo pointed out that members of the diaspora chapters were also prominently represented at Tinubu’s inauguration.
He mentioned that both the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and the National Organising Secretary, Dr. Suleiman Argungu, have been engaging with members of the diaspora chapters and recognizing them as such.
“A video from June 29, 2024, features Senator Basiru, in his capacity as national secretary, proudly acknowledging a group as the APC UK diaspora chapter. He did not view them as a support group. So what has changed?” Labinjo questioned.
He called for the immediate resignation of Basiru and Argungu due to their actions, which he claims have caused embarrassment to the party, urging the National Working Committee (NWC) to take action if they refuse to step down. “Our party deserves leaders who promote unity, not those who divide and tarnish its reputation, especially among our diaspora members,” he stated.
Labinjo also noted that during an emergency meeting in New York, the Committee of Diaspora Chairmen discussed the need for the removal of Basiru and Argungu due to multiple infractions and unwarranted interference with diaspora chapters, which he believes contravenes the party’s constitution.
He concluded by stating, “It is misleading and disingenuous to suggest, as Mr Felix Morka did, that the existence of the party’s diaspora chapters is unknown.”
Labinjo condemned the move to dissolve the diaspora chapters into support groups as disrespectful and a significant deviation from the high standards traditionally upheld by the APC.
