Osun LP Chairman Suspended Over Alleged Embezzlement N34 Million Polling Agents, Publicity Allowance

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The leadership of Labour Party(LP) in Osun State on Tuesday suspended the State chairman, Prince Bello Adebayo for anti-party activities and alleged embezzlement of N34million allowance for polling agents who worked for the party during 2023 General Election.

The allowance also covered the publicity of the presidential candidate of the party during the election.

Adebayo’s suspension was conveyed by the party’s executives of his ward, Ward 12, Osogbo Local Government Area of Osun State led by its chairman, Hammed Sheriff while briefing newsmen as he noted that “our action for suspending Bello Adebayo was hinged on Article 19(1B)(2B) subsections 2,3,4 and 5. He carried out anti-party propaganda and his failure to attend Ward meeting for about 10 times without cogent reason.”

This is just as the chairmen of the party across all local governments area of Osun State led by Raheem Taiwo-Ojo(Ede South) pass a vote of confidence on the LP Acting Chairman of Osun State, Chief Sussan Ojo as the dissociate themselves from ‘illegal’ suspension of the National Legal Adviser of the party, Barrister Akingbade Oyelekan and Sussan Ojo by Bello Adebayo(ex-chairman).

The Acting Chairman, Chief Ojo alleged that N4 million that that was released by LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi for publicity to Adebayo was not paid to the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council(LPPCC) and after the 2023 General election, N30 millon meant for polling agents given to him was embezzled.

She explained that, “Comrade Lane Fadahunsi who is the SW Coordinator of Big Tent and the Chairman of Media Committee of the LPPCC, Barrister Jimoh Babalola featured on both radio and TV stations marketing Peter Obi and canvassing for votes. The funds spent on this were not given by Adebayo (as it was promised) he took the intervention of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Spokesman Dr. Umar Tanko before he could released part of the money.

“Also, polling agents tasked with the responsibility of submitting Form EC8A after the elections were not compensated despite the fact that he was given N30M to pay polling unit agents that submitted the Forms EC8A. Now the leaders of LPPCC are being chased around by those who submitted these. Forms, while Bello had collected and cornered their funds.”

Meanwhile, Adebayo reacting to the allegations, he said, “there’s no substantial excos for ward 12, all executives in Osogbo local government areas are unhappy. Their tenure has expired because they didn’t even make the Congress which was held in May last year. So there is no substantial exco for ward 12 and that is one of there failure.

“The only money sent to us then was 300,000 naira, the 300,000 naira was sent to us by Chief Akinosun Tokun, so the evidence is there they can contact him, aside that during the campaign January that was Presidential campaign I don’t know what transpired then. They don’t have any locust standard to suspend any elected officers in Osun.”

Ends.