Crisis rocks Oyo APC as stakeholders reject Omodewu as chairman

The leadership crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State took a turn for the worse on Wednesday, as major stakeholders unanimously rejected Isaac Omodewu as Chairman of the party in the state.

Arising from a joint meeting on Wednesday, leaders of the two major zones in the state: Ibadan Main City and Ibadan Outer City, made up of 11 out of the 33 local government areas in the state, condemned the inauguration of Omodewu as the state chairman, adding that the congress that produced him was flawed and had earlier been rejected by the National Caretaker Committee of the party.

The leaders of the two zones, also known as the Progressives Foundation Forum, which have the largest voting population of about 57 percent in the state, said the two zones aligned with the other five zonal leaders which had come up with a harmonised list that was submitted to the National Secretariat of the party.

In the harmonised list, as disclosed by the leaders, Abubakar Gbadamosi is chairman while other positions had also been agreed upon on zonal basis, during one of the several harmonisation meetings of the zonal leaders and other stakeholders in the party.

Some of the leaders who attended the Wednesday meeting which held in Yemetu, Ibadan includes: Kunle Sanda, Abolade Akinyemi, Adewole Oluokun, Lasunmade Adebunmi, BAO Oladeji and Isiaka Alimi.

Others are: Olatunji Ayoade, Lekan Adeyemo, Wahab Oladejo, Kunle Jenrade, Bola Fawole, Gani Alade, Mrs Mabel Williams and Prince Adefisoye Adekanye, among others.

The leaders, who took turns to make remarks, expressed their displeasure at the turn out of events, saying they will not fold their hands and see their party taken over by a few minority at the detriment of the majority who are mostly the foundation members of the party.

They said the inauguration of Omodewu is a threat to the party in Oyo State as the enthronement of a minority group on a majority cannot stand adding, “It will only lead the party to electoral disaster in Oyo State”.

The leaders said there was no congress on which Omodewu could be returned as State Chairman, wondering the basis on which the National Secretariat could have issued Omodewu with a “Certificate of Return”.

They vowed to use every legal means to return the party to majority of its members who overwhelmingly returned Abubakar Adejare Gbadamosi as the State Chairman of the party.

In his speech, Chief Sanda asserted that at the stakeholders meeting held at the National Secretariat on November 4, 2021, the National Secretary declared that the purported congress conducted on October 30 at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan “was held in error” and without the knowledge nor approval of the National Chairman of the party.

Sanda stated: “He apologised to members for the error and the meeting resolved to complete the consensus election of a State Chairman which had produced Alhaji Gbadamosi as State Chairman. The purported return of Omodewu is the climax of a reign of impunity which a tiny and minority section of the party in Oyo State in collaboration with outside forces had sought to impose on the party ahead of the 2023 general elections. As such illegalities have always been, it will definitely fail.”

Legal procedure

On his part, Abolade Akinyemi disclosed that the leaders and other stakeholders have resolved to use every legal means to reclaim the mandate given to the Abubakar Gbadamosi-led State Executive and establish a party leadership that represents the wish of majority members of the party in Oyo State.

“What we are witnessing is a temporary distraction that would test our commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law. We will not fail the test,” Akinyemi noted.

Also speaking, BAO Oladeji said: “There are attempts to exploit sentiments to rally support for the illegitimate Omodewu executive. We commend our members who have spurned the early morning visits and calls to woo and hoodwink them to support the illegitimate executive. The clandestine visits, calls and blackmail will continue.”

The leaders further implored all the members of the party in the state to remain calm and law abiding.

Emmanuel Ukoh