Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State have urgently called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and other top party officials to intervene in a deepening internal crisis. The appeal came after a party chieftain, Mr. Gafar Oyebade, was allegedly harassed and physically injured by Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, a member of the House of Representatives representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency, at the APC State Secretariat in Ibadan on Monday. The incident has sparked widespread concern among party members and leaders, who fear the growing influence of violence and intimidation within the party structure.
The APC chieftains made their appeal during a press conference held in Ibadan on Tuesday. They expressed alarm over what they described as the hijacking of the party’s internal processes by individuals operating outside established party protocols. Mr. Oyebade, speaking directly to journalists, emphasized that the attack was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of misconduct affecting multiple local government areas in Oyo State. He specifically named Atisbo, Afijio, Egbeda, and Ibadan North-West as regions experiencing similar turmoil.
Oyebade called on the apex decision-making body of the APC, including President Tinubu and the National Chairman, to take immediate action. He also urged the Inspector-General of Police and Zone 11 of the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the incident and ensure justice is served. “Hoodlums have hijacked the APC structure,” he declared. “This is not peculiar to Lagelu. What I want is justice. He should be brought to book. He should be prosecuted. If he continues, it will affect many people. He should be prosecuted and brought to book so that it will serve as a deterrent to others.”
Chief Timothy Sanda, a former Chairman of Lagelu Local Government and prominent APC leader, echoed Oyebade’s concerns. He described the attack as “unfortunate” and condemned the public assault by a sitting member of the House of Representatives. Sanda stressed that such conduct is unacceptable within the APC, which he said should not be associated with thuggery or misrule. “You journalists are the ones who can get it to the ears of our leaders. They should come to our aid and wade in,” he said. “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.”
The crisis highlights growing tensions within the APC in Oyo State, where leadership disputes and power struggles have increasingly spilled into public view. The party leadership’s swift response to this incident will be crucial in restoring order and maintaining the party’s credibility. As the situation unfolds, stakeholders are watching closely to see how the national leadership addresses the growing unrest. The outcome may set a precedent for how internal party conflicts are managed across Nigeria’s political landscape.
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