The hope of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of defeating Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in the 2023 gubernatorial election may have suffered a hit as major stakeholders within the party have kicked against the emergence of Mr Isaac Omodewu as chairman of the party.
DAILY POST recalls that the APC had in the last few months boasted that it was ready to defeat Makinde in the 2023 elections.
Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had in 2019 defeated the APC candidate, Adebayo Adelabu.
Our correspondent however gathered that major stakeholders of the APC have insisted that they cannot work with Omodewu.
Omodewu, a former commissioner in the state, had on Saturday, 30th October 2021 emerged as Chairman of the party.
Our correspondent learnt that major stakeholders, among whom were former gubernatorial candidates, senators, ministers, commissioners and local government chairmen, vowed not to work with Omodewu as chairman of the party.
The stakeholders, who rose from a meeting in Ibadan on Sunday, noted that there was no congress on which Omodewu could be returned as state chairman.
The party chieftains vowed to use all legal means to resist any attempt to allow Omodewu as chairman of the party.
Some of the party chieftains who vowed not to work with Omodewu as chairman of the party include Senator Adebayo Adeseun, Minister for Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare; former Minister for Communications, Adebayo Shittu; senators Olufemi Lanlehin, Soji Akanbi and Fatai Buhari, Adebayo Adelabu, Fatai Ibikunle, Adeolu Akande, Ismail Adewusi and Adedeji Adelabu.
Others are Joseph Tegbe, Azeez Adedutan and Wale Olatunji, Akeem Adeyemi, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, Olumide Ojerinde, George Akintola and Jide Olatunbosun.
The rest are former secretaries to the state government, Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, Waheed Olajide and Olalekan Alli, Gunju Ojo, Yekini Popoola, Abass Aleshinloye, Gbenga Olayemi, Bimbo Adepoju, Lasun Adebunmi, Isiaka Alimi, Lekan Adeyemo, Kunle Sanda, Sola Ogunbode, Kola Olabiyi, Folake Olunloyo Oshinowo, Saheed Fijabi and Nureni Adisa.
The party chieftains said that emergence of Omodewu would be disastrous for the party in 2023.
The APC chieftains, in the statement signed by Senator Ayo Adeseun and obtained by DAILY POST, said, “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, they will definitely fail.
“The stakeholders resolved to use every legal means to reclaim the mandate given to Alhaji Abu 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.
“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 nought.”
