SAGAMU, NIGERIA- A storm of protest has erupted within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Remo, Ogun State, following the composition of the party’s 100-man Campaign Council for the upcoming Remo Federal Constituency bye-election. The Remo group, voicing widespread local discontent, has condemned the council’s structure as a profound insult to the people of Remoland.
At the heart of the outrage is the appointment of a non-Remo indigene as Director-General (DG) of the campaign. The group views this as a clear signal that the APC leadership believes no qualified Remo man or woman exists to lead the charge in their own backyard. “For a local election, one would expect that the locals who understand the terrain and know their people well and can speak to them are put in charge,” the group stated, adding pointedly, “It is like APC is wired for failure already.”
Beyond the leadership snub, the group alleges a pattern of disrespect and marginalization. They highlighted the “selective recognition and compensation of a few individuals” among aspirants who were pressured to withdraw for the Governor’s preferred candidate. Many of these aspirants, described as “bona fide Remo people,” were allegedly dismissed as “cyber or social media aspirants” and deemed “worthless” – a characterization the group calls “a deliberate insult to their intelligence and the amount of money expended during the campaign.”
“They are men and women genuinely interested in serving their people with ideas and God-given talents,” the statement emphasised. “They know where the shoe pinches their people, they know our challenges and the developmental needs of the various communities.”
The group drew parallels to the past, accusing the outgoing Governor of repeating a tactic of last-minute, election-focused appointments. “True to type… he enacted his last-minute political appointments aimed at elections only in the twilight of his administration,” they asserted, recalling similar actions before the 2023 elections followed by the alleged abandonment of appointees. They predicted the same fate awaits the current appointees, stating, “PDA will not be returning to the Government House in Oke Mosan… most of these emergency political appointees will no longer have access to the Governor.”
However, the most serious allegation centres on electoral integrity. The group interprets the reliance on non-Remo personnel as a dangerous sign. “The mobilisation of non-Remo people… is a clear signal that the APC is not planning to win by clear means but to rig the election,” they declared, labelling the outsiders as “political mercenaries… who can supervise an election heist.”
They issued a stark warning about potential resistance in Sagamu, known for its volatility and strong cultural identity. “Sagamu especially is a volatile town, and the people have a culture of resistance; they cannot be dictated to, nor have their representative selected for them by outsiders,” the statement read. “We are not a conquered people and we will resist any attempt to make us look like one.”
The group expressed fears that these “foreigners” would be directing operations while Remo youths might be used for violent acts. “While outsiders are giving directives, they plan to use Remo people only as thugs to carry out sinister duties as ballot snatching and causing mayhem. The outsiders do not care if our towns burn, they have been retained as mercenaries and their sole mission is to deliver through conquest, even if the peace of our communities is disrupted.”
Calling for vigilance, the group appealed directly to security agencies: “We call on the Nigerian security, the Police, the DSS to be alive to their responsibilities towards ensuring credible elections, and let our people’s votes count.”
The Remo group’s protest throws a significant challenge at the feet of the APC leadership, questioning not only local representation and respect but also raising grave concerns about the party’s commitment to a free and fair contest in the crucial Remo Federal Constituency bye-election. The party is yet to issue an official response to these allegations.
Folami David writes on trends and pop culture. He is a creative writer, and he is passionate about music and football.