Police Arrest Ekiti APC Executive
The chairman of the APC Stakeholders Forum, Prince Bangboye Adegoroye had raised the alarm over the state governor’s harassment of party members.
The crisis rocking the Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has taken another dimension on Thursday evening as the Council Chairman of Ikere Local Government led police force to arrest the ward Legal Adviser of Ugele/ Arokun, Sanya Daramola over his refusal to sign the suspension filed against Dr. Oluwole Oluyede, APC Stakeholders Forum reports.
Oluyede, a former governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Ekiti State and contested with Governor Kayode Fayemi during the 2018 governorship primaries.
Oluyede held on Monday, June 29, escaped suspension over alleged accusation of the state governor, Kayode Fayemi on non-performance in the state.
Oluyede alongside Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye and 13 other, had on Sunday, June 28 raised the alarm that APC could lose the state to the opposition with Fayemi’s alleged impunity and poor performance.
An impeccable source within the party said the Omotosho-led State Working Committee of the party was instructed by Governor Fayemi to ensure those opposing him within the party are being axed with suspension.
Rather than carrying out the alleged directives, leaders and executive members of Ugele/Arokun ward in Ikere-Ekiti, Ikere local government area of Ekiti state unanimously passed a vote of confidence on him.
This development is coming a few days afterward executives in ward 8 Ado-Ekiti Council Area of Ekiti State defied the APC State Working Committee to initiate the suspension process on Ojodu over alleged anti-party activities.
The party leaders, after its emergency meeting, said that the trained physician had done nothing wrong to warrant any form of punishment from the party, adding that his moral and financial support to the party was immeasurable.
In a statement signed by the ward chairman, Mr. Ogunleye Ojo, Legal Adviser, Sanya Daramola alongside other 17 executives, the party leaders said that they would not be intimidated or induced in carrying out actions that would spell doom for the party.
The ward executives said Oluyede has not engaged in any anti-party activities rather being supportive of the growth of the party, describing as one who has been forthright and consistently leads by example.
“We, the executive members of Ugele/Arokun ward executives have jointly moved a motion and hereby pass a vote of confidence on him for his outstanding role in the party both at the local, state, and national level.”
“The man in question (Dr. Oluwole) has contributed immensely either morally or financially to the lives of many APC members at all levels and at both ward, local, state, and national at large.
“Dr. Oluwole has not for once engaged in any anti-party activities or commits any unpardonable offense that warrants suspension”.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the APC Stakeholders Forum, Prince Bangboye Adegoroye had raised the alarm over the state governor’s harassment of party members.
According to the Adegoroye “, it has been brought to our notice that the Legal Adviser of Ugele/Arokun ward in Ikere Local Government, Mr. Sanya Daramola has just been arrested by JKF TokanTokan group of APC, led by the Council Chairman of Ikere Local Government.
“His travail is said to have been caused by the vote of confidence passed by the Ward Executives on Dr. Oluwole Oluyede, who the State government is said to be desperately planning to suspend from the Party.
“Ironically Dr. Oluyede’s dad who is now late was one of the party leaders who signed the nomination form of Dr. Fayemi when he first contested to run for Ekiti Governor. Fayemi and Oluyede were not only school mates but close friends
“We have just learned from the police station in Ikere where he is being held that the state Attorney General has requested that he is interested in the case and the party official at the Ward should be transferred to Ado Ekiti for prosecution by the State for refusing to suspend a very senior member of the party as requested by the Governor.
“The Attorney General, Mr. Wale Fapounda, another human rights activist was a one-time member of the human rights Commission.
“The APC stakeholders Forum condemn this act of gangsterism which is fast becoming the modus operandi of Paul Omotoso led TokanTokan Exco, backed by JKF administration.
“The legality of the constitution of this set of Executive is still in court, but the Government appears set to prefer disorderliness to constituted means of arbitration.
“We condemn this in strong terms and call for his immediate release. The only credential that earned Dr. Kayode Fayemi the Governor of Ekiti State during his first coming was his fight for democracy and human rights.
“We are shocked that same person now in power has forgotten his background and find pleasure in stifling opposition and harassing everyone found not to be in his corner”, Adegoroye said.
Ayooluwa Joshua