Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and other senior party figures to intervene in the escalating crisis within the party’s local structure.
The appeal was made during a press conference held in Ibadan on Tuesday. The party chieftains said tensions have been rising over control of the APC structure in the area, with some alleging that the party has been “hijacked” by elements engaging in intimidation and violence.
The situation intensified after a party chieftain, Mr Gafar Oyebade, was allegedly assaulted and injured by Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, a member of the House of Representatives representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency, during an incident at the APC State Secretariat on Monday.
Oyebade, addressing journalists, urged President Tinubu, the National Chairman, the Inspector-General of Police, and Zone 11 of the Nigeria Police Force to intervene. “Hoodlums have hijacked the APC structure,” he said. “This is not peculiar to Lagelu Local Government Area. There are crises in Atisbo, Afijio, Egbeda, and Ibadan North-West too. I am calling on all Nigerians to save me. What I want is justice.”
He called for the prosecution of those responsible, saying, “He should be brought to book. If he continues, it will affect many people. It should serve as a deterrent to others.”
Chief Timothy Sanda, a former chairman of the local government and APC leader, described the attack as “unfortunate” and unbecoming of the party. “It is not proper for any member of the House of Representatives to beat someone in public, and this was done at the APC State Secretariat. APC is not a party of thugs or miscreants,” he said.
Sanda appealed to journalists to convey the concerns to national party leaders, urging them to address the imbalance and restore order in affected local government areas across the state.
The APC chieftains maintain that urgent intervention is needed to prevent further deterioration of internal party cohesion and to uphold the party’s image as a disciplined and democratic political organisation.
