Controversy trails emergence of Omodewu as Oyo APC chairman

Saturday’s state congress of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), in Oyo state, which ratified the emergence of a former Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Survey, Mr. Isaac Omodewu as the party chairman in the state, has thrown up major controversy.

The outgoing Chairman of the Party, Chief Akin Oke, had on Friday evening raised an alarm over the delegates’ list handed over to him by the Alhaji  Gambo Lawan-led State’s Congress Committee, insisting that the said list do not reflect the results which emanated from the Ward and Local Government Congresses as done on July 31 and September 4, 2021 respectively.

Oke further questioned Gambo, where and how the results handed over to him  was generated?

“I have been bombarded by critical stakeholders and members of the party across the state over the authenticity of the result. I have communicated the reaction of party members to the leadership of the APC in Abuja. I am also under immense pressure by members of the party over the fate of the  party congress scheduled for tommorrow.

“As a responsible party leader, I wish to state categorically that the lists which were given to me this afternoon do not reflect the results which emanated from the Ward and Local Government Congresses as done on July 31 and September 4, 2021 respectively. To this end, I have no option but to call for an urgent meeting of stakeholders of the party for 9a.m tommorrow Saturday 30th October 2021 at the State Secretariat  to determine what to do to manage the tension in the party and avert the orgy of bloodshed being threatened by most members of the party across the state”, he said.

Meanwhile, the emergency meeting could not hold as planned, attributing its failure to security reasons.

Also, corroborating the outgoing chairman’s submissions, some prominent leaders and stakeholders of the party in Oyo state, on Saturday, alleged manipulation of the delegates’ list to the congress.

The stakeholders, including the Minister of Youths and a Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission, Professor Adeolu Akande, Senator Ayoade Adeseun, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, Chief Niyi Akintola who was represented, the 2019 Governorship flag bearer for the state, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, Ex-SSG Sharafadeen Alli, Dr Azeez Adeduntan and Joseph Tegbe.

Some of the federal lawmakers in attendance include, Prince Akeem Adeyemi, Mrs Tolulope Shadipe, former Oyo Assembly Speaker, Mr Olagunju Ojo, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye.

Other  leaders who converged at Premier Hotel Ibadan for a press conference are Fatai Ibikunle, Niyi Adeagbo, Mrs Folake Oshinowo, Gbenga Olayemi, Kola Olabiyi, Wasiu Owolabi, Ambali Abiodun and Olalekan Kazeem among others.

The Oyo APC stakeholders called on the national secretariat and leaders of the party  to investigate and punish those responsible for the false list appropriately.

They, also appealed to the national leadership of the party to reconsider its decision on the state congress already billed for Saturday till an authentic  delegates’ list is provided.

But, the Chairman of the State Congress Committee, Alhaji Gambo Lawan , informed that he had directed his Secretary, Bello Abdulai to conduct the state congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state since he was prevented from leaving his hotel for several hours, by unknown hoodlums alleged to be sponsored by some members of the party who did not want the congress to hold.

The congress, which produced the Otu born politician  in Itesiwaju local government area of the state, Omodewu, and new members of the state executive could not hold until around 5pm

“I didn’t come because hoodlums sponsored by miscreant elements barricaded my hotel and were shooting. So, the hoodlums were sponsored by politicians in Oyo State. It’s a pity that APC leaders can do this. Politics is about people trusting and electing you.

“Because of the situation, security people advised me to stay until they were able to clear the way but their actions did not subside. Fortunately, my secretary and one other officer already went out before they laid the siege. So they were asked to go and organise the congress. The national secretariat approved that the secretary do it. The delegation was also approved by me. So, it can’t be a nullity. It was legal and correct”, Gambo said.

The new Oyo APC chairman appealed to members of the party to put their grievances aside and unite to move the party to greater heights, urging them to allow peace reign and focus on how to win elections in 2023.

Omodewu thanked the leaders of the party for their support, promising to do his best to reconcile aggrieved members and reposition the party

However , for the All  Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo state, its nagging problem is daily panning out as crises without end, considering the latest development.

It was learnt that four of the seven members in the State congress committee have allegedly opted out of the assignment and hurriedly returned to Abuja, the nation’s capital.

According to impeccable sources, the members sneaked out one after the other from the Jericho Apartment, Ibadan where they were lodged to head for Abuja enroute Lagos.

The four members included, Mr Lanre Edun,  Mallam Abdullai Kontagora, Mr Diran Iyantan and Chief Ralph Igbokwe.

These committee members, as learnt, had argued at a meeting of the committee Friday night that the protest against the delegates’  list presented at the Stakeholders meeting should not be dismissed if the party would be reconciled for the 2023 elections.

“A member of the committee who spoke with party officials in Abuja explained that the number of gladiators and groups who have protested the controversial list are too numerous to be ignored.

“But the Chairman and Secretary are adamant that the congress must hold with the disputed list”, one of the sources disclosed.

The four members who reportedly expressed their worries over the adamance of the Chairman and Secretary walked out of the apartment and organised to be taken to Lagos from where they headed for Abuja.

One of the committee members, who did not want his name in print, confirmed that they had left the Chairman and Secretary in Ibadan as they could not afford to be part of the scam going on in Ibadan.