Oyo APC Senators absent as party elects state officers

The two senators from the All Progressives Congress in Oyo state – Olufemi Lanlehin and Ayoade Adeseun- were conspicuously absent at the party congress held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Ibadan to elect state officers on Saturday.

Though, no reasons were given for their absence from the rally, the two senators had earlier been rumoured to be planning their exit from the party soon.

While Lanlehin, who represents Oyo South, was said to be in Abuja at the time the congress was holding, there was no information on the whereabouts of Adeseun, who represents Oyo Central on the party’s platform in the National Assembly.

The two senators also failed to participate in the last party membership registration exercise held earlier in the year.

After keeping delegates waiting for almost four hours, the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, arrived the congress venue around 3pm.

The governor came in company of his deputy, Moses Alake Adeyemo, and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Monsurat Sunmonu, among other government functionaries.

Shortly after their arrival, the congress commenced and only lasted less than an hour as all the officers were elected by affirmation. Only the governor, his deputy and the speaker of the state house of assembly cast symbolic vote at the congress.

In his welcome address, chairman of the congress committee and former secretary to the Osun state government, Sola Akinwumi, disclosed that the last ward and local government congresses stirred some controversies, adding that some aggrieved members wrote petitions to reject the outcome.

He added that his team had taken some steps to address some of the issues raised in the petitions.

According to him, because of time constraint, his committee agreed to allow the state governor to wade into the matter and settle them amicably.

While specifically mentioning Atiba and Oyo West as the core areas of the crises, he also informed that the committee had resolved that the new state executive committee would work towards resolving the crises.

Adebayo Shittu, former governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), had petitioned the committee earlier in the week, alleging marginalization of members of his party in the election of executive officers of the party at ward and local government levels.

He equally threatened to seek legal action to stop the state congress. The congress committee eventually prevailed on him, assuring him that his grievances would be looked into.

Shittu was also absent at the congress on Saturday. No reason was given for his absence.

Among the elected state officers are Akin Oke, Chairman; Alimi Isiaka, Vice Chairman; Mojeed Olaoya, Secretary; and Bosun Oladele, Legal Adviser.

Governor Ajimobi, who swore them in, admonished the state party officers to accommodate all members and ensure that they fear God in all their dealings.