The Centre for the Advocacy of Human Rights and Social Justice supports the decision of the Ogun East Senatorial District caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to limit attendance at its recent meeting to only properly accredited members. They say this was necessary to keep order, discipline, and institutional integrity.
The group sent out a press release that was signed by its leader, Olufemi Akindele, and made available to reporters. In it, they said that the controversy over the alleged exclusion of Senator Gbenga Daniel was being blown out of proportion and that all members, no matter their status, must respect party structures.
The group said that caucus meetings have clear rules and are not open to the public. They also said that people usually only come if they are invited and recognized within the party hierarchy. It said that the choice to limit participation was not random or aimed at a specific group, but rather in line with established norms meant to make sure that discussions were productive.
The statement said that attempts to make the development look like an attack on Senator Daniel were wrong. It also said that party processes should not be misrepresented in a way that could confuse the public or cause unnecessary tension.
“The caucus’s choice to let only invited stakeholders in is in line with how political parties should work in a democratic way.” The group said, “Discipline, order, and respect for procedure are the pillars on which any credible political institution must stand.”
The Centre also told Daniel to show statesmanship by following party rules and using internal channels to voice any complaints instead of criticizing them in public. It said that the former governor, as a high-ranking member of the party, should set an example of how to act in a democratic way and help the party stay together instead of tearing it apart.
The group told supporters to be careful and not get the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, involved in what they called a purely party-driven issue. It said again that the state government did not call the meeting in question; instead, it was called by party members acting within the law.
“It is important for political leaders to keep party management and governance separate. The statement went on to say, “Bringing the governor into this issue only makes a simple organizational process political.”
The group stressed that healthy democracies depend on following rules and making decisions as a group, not on how people see their own rights. It said that constant public attacks on party processes could hurt internal democracy and be a bad example for younger members.
In the end, the Center asked everyone in the APC to stay committed to unity and the rule of law. It also asked Senator Daniel to follow the party’s rules and engage in democratic processes to settle disputes.
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