Oyo APC Splits Into Two, Holds Parallel Congresses

By .Olu Babalola, Ibadan

The lingering crisis in the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday reached its climax in Ibadan when two parallel congresses were held by two factions of the party.

While the faction called Unity Group held its congress at the Obafemi
Awolowo Stadium Oke Ado Ibadan, the other faction called SENACO held its own at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba Ibadan

The SENACO Group is being led by Governor Abiola Ajimobi with his political appointees as well as Chief Akin Oke, the state party Chairman as his lieutenants with him.

The Unity group has the Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu and many members of the National Assembly on the same side.

Five members of the national executives of the party shared into two including INEC representatives as well as security officers to monitor the congresses which were peaceful as at press time.

The Secretary of the Unity Group, Wasiu Olatubosun who was a former Interim Council Chairman condemned the Governor’s overbearing influence on the party adding that his excesses should be curbed.

Olatubosun who was a selected council Chairman by the Governor for about seven years accused Governor Ajimobi of carrying his impunity too far, adding that the Govermor would not be allowed to have his ways on them this time.

Adebayo Shittu disclosed that all efforts to counsel the Governor to let them follow the constitutional guidelines on the congresses were rebuffed by Senator Ajimobi adding that all steps taken by his group were illegal.

The Minister revealed that his Group had approached the court to quash the ward and local government congresses earlier held by the SENACO group.

A member of SENACO group however admitted that the Unity Group has more National Assembly members in its midst but quickly said that they were splinter group

He was of the opinion that those who were not on the side of the Governor were against the candidates which the Governor wanted the party to field for the next year’s election

Meanwhile, members of the public were anxious to know which of the congreses would be endorsed by the NEC of the party.