The leader of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Alhaji Bisi Olopoeyan , has declared that he and all registered APM members remain committed to the party and have no intention of leaving APM for any individual or group. Cyber Prof reports.
Olopoeyan made the declaration on Wednesday while hosting 24 out of the 30 members of the state executive committee and party chairmen from 32 out of the 33 local government areas of Oyo State at his residence.
He explained that the current disagreements within the party should not be interpreted as a move by him or other members to abandon APM, stressing that their agitation was aimed at securing due recognition as bona fide members who had contributed significantly to building the party’s structures across the state.
According to him, APM belongs to all its members, and neither he nor his supporters would abandon the party for anyone.
Olopoeyan he is not concern over the absence of the state chairman, Otunba Fagbemi Adegbenro, from the meeting, alleging that the chairman stayed away because of fears that the gathering was convened to suspend him.
He, however, dismissed such fears, assuring members that there was no plan to remove or suspend the state chairman.
“No one is going to suspend anybody. Adegbenro remains our chairman. Even if the executive members have the constitutional power to remove him, nobody is planning to do that. He remains the APM state chairman,” Olopoeyan said.
He urged party members to reassure Adegbenro, saying: “Anyone who sees our state chairman should tell him to put his mind at rest. Nobody will suspend him. He is our chairman, and he will remain our chairman.”
The APM leader further alleged that he had been informed that some political figures, including Seye Famojuro, Babatunde Tijani (Double T), and the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Engr. Muftau Open Salawu, had advised Adegbenro to distance himself from him and stop visiting his residence.
Olopoeyan stated that such alleged developments would not affect his commitment to the party or his relationship with registered APM in the state.
He maintained that the disagreement within APM was essentially about protecting the rights and interests of genuine party members, particularly in the process that produced consensus candidates for the forthcoming local government elections.
However, Olopoeyan said the duly emerged APM candidates had approached the court with the support of the party’s state, local government and ward executives.
He stressed that the Oyo State APM believes in the rule of law and would accept the court’s verdict, irrespective of which side it favours.
Olopoeyan further lamented that, despite being a major stakeholder in the party, he was unfamiliar with many of the candidates contesting under the APM platform.
He said the candidates he personally knows include Governor Seyi Makinde, who is contesting for the presidency; the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Bimbo Adekanmbi; his running mate, Engr. Muftau Open Salawu; Hon. Shina Peller, contesting for the Oyo North Senatorial District seat; Dr. Oluwafemi Ajadi, contesting for Oyo Central Senatorial District; and Hon. Biodun Babalola, the candidate for Ibadan North East State Constituency.
Olopoeyan insisted that genuine party members should be adequately involved in the affairs and decision-making processes of the party, particularly as preparations intensify for future elections.
