More kicks continue to trail Oyo APC leadership and inauguration of excos, as a Professor of Comparative Politics and Frontline Gubernatorial Aspirant in the All Progressives Congress in Oyo state, Barrister Adeolu Akande on Monday assured supporters that Omodewu cannot lead the state party.
Akande reacting to the new development in the state party, declared that the purported inauguration of Chief Isaac Ajiboye Omodewu as Chairman of the APC in Oyo state cannot stand.
Addressing supporters in Ibadan, Akande assured supporters across the 33 local government areas to remain calm, while the matter is being resolved.
“This development is a temporary distraction. It will pass. We are students of history and no attempt to impose the minority over the majority has ever worked or been sustained. This instance will not be different.
“I assure all that this one will pass as well. Let us continue our work. God is on our side”, He submitted.
It would be recalled that Omodewu inaugurated members of the party state executive earlier today alongside the chairmen across the 33 local government area in Oyo state, after he was inaugurated by the Buni-led APC in Abuja last week, as the chairman of the party in the state.
Meanwhile, some APC stakeholders consisting of the bigwigs in the opposition party vowed to use every legal means to return the party to majority of its members who overwhelmingly returned Alhaji Abubakar Adejare Gbadamosi as State Chairman of the party.
According to a press statement signed by Senator Adebayo Adeseun and sighted by newsmen, the party bigwigs described the inauguration of Omodewu as a threat to the APC in Oyo State, emphasising that, the enthronement of a minority group on a majority cannot stand.
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“It will only lead the party to electoral disaster in Oyo State”, the statement added.
Other listed subscribers to the press statement include, Minister for Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare; Former Minister for Communications, Adebayo Shittu; Senator Fatai Buhari representing Oyo North Senatorial Zone, Adebayo Adelabu (gubernatorial candidate of the party in the 2019 election), Fatai Ibikunle (Chairman of the Nigeria Lotteries Regulatory Commission), and Professor Adeolu Akande (Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission).
Also, the likes of Dr. Ismail Adewusi (Post Master General of the Federation), Zach Adelabu Adedeji (Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Sugar Development Council), Joseph Tegbe, Dr. Azeez Adedutan (Former Commissioner of Health), supported the press statement.
The statement continued: “The details of what transpired on the purported State Congress of the party in Oyo State is an open book. 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.
“He apologised to the stakeholders 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.
“The stakeholders resolved to use every legal means to reclaim the mandate given to Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi 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.
“There are attempts to exploit sentiment 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 visit, calls and blackmail will continue.
“We are convinced that our history of commitment to democratic principles which have always been on display in Oyo State will make all such nefarious efforts come to naught.
“We implore all members of the party in the state to remain calm and law abiding. Every legal means would be employed to return the party to the overwhelming majority of members who have expressed their preferred leadership through the democratic process enshrined in the Constitution of the party”, the statement concluded.
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