A major crisis has erupted in the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State over the suspension of the Chairman, Elder Tope Omolayo, by a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) executive in the council area.
A faction of the party in Iloro Ward Six has claimed it has suspended Omolayo, who has just resumed from the suspension slammed on him by the councillors of the local government.
However, the leadership of the Ward led by Olasunkanmi Olaoye, Ademola Ogundele, Oluwatoyin Olagbende, and Iyabode Olasunbo Adejoji described the purported suspension as laughable and politically contaminated, saying there was no time any decision was taken to suspend the council boss from the party.
In a statement on Wednesday, the leadership of the party described the suspension of Omolayo as a charade and a show of shame by the purveyors of the purported suspension of the chairman.
The leadership said, “This is a poorly arranged political drama packaged by a few desperate individuals who believe intimidation, coercion, and manipulation can replace due process and democratic values within the party structure.
“The general public should therefore disregard the so-called suspension and go about their lawful activities peacefully, because the action lacks moral weight, political credibility, and genuine acceptance among party faithful within the ward.
“This entire exercise was never about party discipline. It was never about anti-party activities. It was simply a calculated political attack carefully designed to target and embarrass a man whose calmness, popularity, and political relevance continue to unsettle certain interests.”
The leadership said those pushing the narrative know fully well that the Chairman was present during the primary election period. They said the primaries were merely used as a convenient excuse to launch a political assault that had already been planned long before now.
According to them, “Several ward executives acted under intense political pressure and intimidation. Some were cornered into submission. Some acted out of fear. Some simply chose silence to avoid political victimisation of democracy. That is oppression wearing the garment of party loyalty.
“A political structure where executives can no longer exercise independent judgment without fear has already lost its moral foundation. Sadly, a few individuals have reduced the image of the ward executive to instruments of political convenience rather than respected custodians of party administration.”
They added that desperation became so obvious that constitutional procedure, fair hearing, and internal consultation were completely abandoned in favour of emotion, politics, and personal vendetta.
They said the so-called suspension cannot command respect among reasonable political observers in the local government.
They said, “Politics should unite people after contests, not destroy relationships because of ambition.
Unfortunately, some individuals have chosen the dangerous path of bitterness and intimidation, forgetting that every political season eventually comes to an end.
“The people of Iloro Ward Six are politically mature enough to identify genuine leadership and also recognise desperation as activism.
“We therefore advise the general public, party faithful, and political observers to completely disregard this purported suspension because it remains what it truly is, a charade of shame lacking credibility, legitimacy, and sincere acceptance within the ward.
“No amount of propaganda can manufacture respect for an action rooted in coercion and political manipulation.”
