The local government congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held across the country on Saturday was marred by clash of interests at Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State as the process was inconclusive due to acrimony over the choice of candidates.
Tribune Online gathered that the party stakeholders in the state had held a meeting at the party secretariat where it was agreed upon that there should be consesus candidates across the 33 local government areas of the state. This, however, seems not to augur well with some party members in Lagelu local government particularly those loyal to a former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Wasiu Akinmoyede Lafioye popularly known as Lafi.
A chieftain of the party in Lagelu local government, Honourable Remi Adebayo, informed that:”Contrary to what the stakeholders agreed upon, some party members in the local government loyal honourable wasiu Akinmoyede Lafioye a.k.a Lafi were trying to impose an unpopular candidate on the generality of the party, this led to upheaval which rendered the congress inconclusive.
“There are 3 zones in Lagelu local government, they are: Lagelu Central, North and Lagelu West. In compliance with the zoning formula constituted earlier by the zoning committee as agreed upon, Mr Gbenga Adekanbi was chosen as potent party secretary without interference from other two zones while Lagelu North leaders chose Mr Oladipupo Ademola as the vice chairman hence, a leader of the party, Honourable kunle Sanda and other leaders unanimously chose Honourable Oyewumi oyegoke as the chairman for the party in Lagelu Local Government.”
Adebayo further stated that: “The congress process was disrupted when some party members were trying to impose their annointed candidate contrary to the general agreement of the leaders of Lagelu West. This hit brickwall when a faction kicked against the process and this triggered anger of all party members across the 3 zones particularly Lagelu West which suppose to produce the slot for the chairmanship. This kind of development and injustice would not augur well for the future of our great party and I urge authorities concerned to look into it and resolve amicably.”
