The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, on Wednesday deepened as some loyalists of the State Chairman, Mr. Isaac Kekemeke, forcefully opened the party secretariat in Akure, the state capital.
The secretariat had earlier been locked by some aggrieved members.
The aggrieved members, under the aegis of ‘Movement Against Imposition’ led by Barr. Tolu Babaleye, on Tuesday sealed off the secretariat, preventing Kekemeke and other members of his Executive committee from gaining access.
They particularly accused Kekemeke of anti-party activities, manipulation of delegates’ list for the primary election and attempt to impose a particular aspirant as candidate, among others.
But, Kekemeke’s loyalists, who were fully armed stormed the secretariat Wednesday morning and chased away the aggrieved members from the office.
It took the intervention of men of the State police command and officials of the Department of State Service (DSS) before normalcy was returned.
The Kekemeke’s boys led by one Alhaji Amoda Bello described the action of the aggrieved group as illegal, saying no group has the right to lock up the secretariat of the party.
He said if any group is aggrieved, it should channel its grievances through the appropriate quarters.
Also, the party state’s secretary, Mr. Rahman Rotimi condemned the action of some aggrieved youths of the party who locked the party state secretariat.
Mr. Rotimi said the party secretariat was the symbol of the party and cannot be locked by anybody.
He, however, called for calm among party members, adding that APC in Ondo state is one big family.
Meanwhile, a prominent women leader of APC in Akure South local government of the state, Mrs. Titilope Oparinde said she had never for once abused the party National leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.
Oparinde expressed confidence in the leadership of the party in the state led by Kekemeke.
The APC chieftain urged the public to disregard the rumour of her purported insult on the National leaders of the party.
Mrs Oparinde said she can never stand in a gathering where the name of Asiwaju Tinubu will be dragged in the mud.
She said her only call was for free and fair primary election of the party in the state.
Mrs Oparinde also condemned the locking up of the party secretariat and the subsequent alleged removal of the state chairman from office.
She, however, said her call for free and fair primary election stands.
Comments