By Abdulrasheed Akogun

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state, Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa, has said that he remains the authentic chairman of the party in the state, stressing that the party’ll grow stronger under his leadership in the State.

It would be recalled that his deputy, Abdullahi Samari with the backing of the State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq had been struggling to take over the party chairmanship after the national leadership of the party reportedly issued a letter to him to that effect.

Speaking for the first time since the crisis in the party started, Hon. Bolarinwa spoke with party supporters during a sensitization and mobilization programme ahead of membership registration/revalidation exercise in Ilorin on today, saying that there was no petition against him before his purported suspension and removal.

“I have heard and read a lot about lies being peddled all about APC chairmanship position in the state. I am here to tell you that I remain the chairman of the APC in Kwara state. All their antics with Samari would not take them anywhere. They should bring out the petition written to effect my purported removal. I was never called to any panel. It can not hold waters”, he said.

The party chieftain, who said that he was approached by the forces in government to take commissionership appointment in place of his chairmanship position, said that he would not succumb to intimidation from any quarters.

The party leader also urged members and lovers of the party to take advantage of the current membership drive to not only register but also mobilize people in their different polling units, wards and local government to become members of the party.

Hon. Bolarinwa said the party had to hurriedly organize a membership registration in 2018 to meet the conditions of conducting party primaries which were close as at that time, which he said denied many aspiring members the opportunity.

He said that the registration and rẹvalidation exercise of the party is intended to expand its membership base, organize the party and reposition it for future challenges.

“According to the guidelines, you are to to register at your polling units where you will be attended to by your wards registration.

“You will be required to fill a membership form with two passports photographs and thereafter be issued a temporary membership slip,” he explained.

He, however, advised members to conduct themselves peacefully and avoid any act of provocation that will amount to a breakdown of law and order in the state.

“As you go about your mobilization, sensitization and registration, I urge you to conduct yourselves peacefully and avoid any act of provocation that will amount to a breakdown of law and order,” he said.