Join another party or face sanction — APC national secretary Ajibola Basiru warns former Governor Kayode Fayemi against ‘demarketing’ the ruling party

National secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru has warned former Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi against making comments that could damage the image of the All Progressives Congress, saying the party could take disciplinary action against him over alleged anti-party activities.

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Basiru’s reaction followed Fayemi’s recent criticism of the APC during an interview on State Affairs with Edmund Obilo, where the former governor said the ruling party had drifted away from the ideals of its founding fathers and was gradually losing internal debate and ideological direction.

Fayemi also warned that the growing culture of endorsements and consensus arrangements within the party could trigger internal crises ahead of future elections. “This is not where the party has come from. We have lost our bearing and the vision of the founding fathers of this party,” Fayemi said during the interview.

The former governor further criticised what he described as the increasing rush by politicians to seek favour from the presidency. “It would be unfortunate if everybody is running to Aso Rock because they want something,” he said. “Those who don’t get consensus won’t be happy… and you’re waiting for an implosion.”

Responding to the remarks, Basiru dismissed Fayemi’s concerns and suggested the former governor should leave the APC if he no longer believes in the party. “We urge him that since he so much despises the party and wishes the party an implosion, he should go to where whatever he thinks his best ideas can be ventilated,” Basiru told Punch. “We wish him the best of luck, but he should not stay within our party and be wishing us bad luck. He should go to another political party if he no longer believes in the party he represents.”

Basiru also warned that the APC would not tolerate comments or actions perceived to be against the interests of the party. “Let him go and join another party. If he does not join another party, the APC will not hesitate to invoke disciplinary actions to sanction him for anti-party activities,” he said. The APC national secretary linked Fayemi’s comments to ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, alleging that the former governor had been engaging with opposition figures.

“His statement only further confirmed what Rotimi Amaechi said, that he was one of those who agreed to form opposition against the APC,” Basiru stated. “We also have it on good authority that he and some of his followers have been hobnobbing with opposition elements, particularly ahead of the Ekiti governorship election.”

Basiru further argued that Fayemi’s comments, coming at a time when the APC is preparing for the Ekiti governorship election, appeared aimed at weakening the party politically. “Even at this time that the party is conducting its primaries and making preparations for the all-important Ekiti governorship election, it only shows a design to demarket the party ahead of that election,” he said.