Daud Olatunji
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Ogun State, is facing internal strife, with significant cracks within its leadership, threatening the unity of the ruling party, PLATFORM TIMES reports.
These cracks were on full display during a recent meeting called by the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele, at her Ota residence.
The meeting, which was intended to solidify the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of upcoming local elections, instead exposed the deepening rifts.
Only seven out of more than 20 Apex Leaders of the party attended the meeting, raising concerns about discontent within the party’s ranks.
Even more alarming was the absence of critical stakeholders, including ward chairmen, women leaders, youth leaders, local government party executives, and council chairmanship and councilorship candidates.
The poor turnout sent shockwaves through the party, with many interpreting it as a deliberate snub of the Deputy Governor’s invitation.
Sources within the party revealed that the low attendance was a direct protest against the Deputy Governor’s alleged unilateral selection of candidates for the upcoming chairmanship and councillorship elections.
PLATFORM TIMES reliably gathered that many Apex Leaders and stakeholders felt sidelined by the decision-making process, which they say was dominated by Salako-Oyedele and her loyalists.
This exclusion of key leaders has sparked widespread anger and resentment, fueling fears of a growing factional divide within the party.
One of the few leaders who attended the meeting described the atmosphere as tense, with Salako-Oyedele visibly uncomfortable and leaving the venue abruptly after realizing the extent of the boycott.
“It was embarrassing for all of us. The low attendance spoke volumes about the discontent in the party,”a leader said.
Party members who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Deputy Governor and her loyalists were systematically sidelining members perceived to be loyal to Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
These members have reportedly been treated as outcasts, further aggravating tensions within the party.
Even some of the councillorship candidates selected by Salako-Oyedele’s camp have expressed dissatisfaction with the process.
One candidate admitted that the selection was unfair, saying, “If this had happened to me, I would not be happy either.”
PLATFORM TIMES further gathered that following the botched meeting, several Apex Leaders reconvened to discuss the situation, expressing disgust at being excluded from the selection process.
They have vowed not to participate in the upcoming campaign activities, a move that could seriously jeopardize the party’s chances in the elections.
Political analysts in Ado-Odo/Ota warn that the growing disunity within the APC could spell disaster for the party, both in the short and long term.
“If the party is not united now, it will be difficult to win any significant election. This is a time bomb waiting to explode,” another source said.
Meanwhile, calls have been made for Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene and resolve the impasse before it escalates further.
An APC executive who spoke to the media emphasized the need for urgent action, noting that similar discontent is brewing across other local governments in the state.
“If the Governor doesn’t step in, the party may suffer greatly,” he warned.
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