Fracas among APC members in Ondo over leadership crisis

Crisis erupted on Thursday at the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state as aggrieved members engaged in a physical battle over the control of the leadership structure of the party.

The crisis caused a clash between the loyalists of the party’s state chairman, Mr. Isaacs Kekemeke and the supporters of Mr. Saka Yusuf who had forcefully taken over the party’s secretariat in Akure.

The clash affected commercial activities in the main town of Akure as business owners nearby the party’s secretariat scampered for safety.

Daily Times learned that passerby and motorists on the major street of the party’s secretariat ran for safety as the aggrieved members engaged in gun duel.

There had been unrest in the party since Tuesday that the Saka Yusuf led faction took over the rein at the party’s secretariat in Akure.

Mr. Yusuf had accused Kekemeke of anti-party activities and the manipulation of delegates’ list for the primary election to suit his preferred candidate, Mr Bode Ayorinde, an aspirant of the party.

But, the situation caused a new twist on Wednesday when some thugs purported to be members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) took over the party’s secretariat.

They were led by one Amoda Bello who is a loyalist to Mr. Isaacs Kekemeke and dislodge the aggrieved members who were protesting the unfair treatment in the party.

Meanwhile, the Police led by the State Deputy Commissioner, Edward Ajogun, has  returned normalcy to the secretariat and took over the party’s main entrance.

Speaking, Mr. Issacs Kekemeke said those fomenting trouble in the party are aggrieved members who want to ruin the Fortune of the party ahead of the November 26th governorship election in the state.

He expressed optimism that the crisis rocking the party would soon be over adding that the national leaders have waded into the issue raised by the aggrieved members.

He maintained that the party would also use the delegates list produced by the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro, who Chaired the State Congress held in 2014.

He added that the Congress has also been amended by Aro Lambo Congress Appeal Committee which recently carried out a ranking scale of all the aspirants of the party.

Kekemeke said that the party’s primary fixed for August 27th would still hold as scheduled and shall be conducted by the national leaders of the party from Abuja.

According to him, there is clear distinction between endorsement and imposition of candidate on the party’s members.

“it has been sufficiently explained that endorsement is consistent and compatible with best democratic practices even in the most advanced democracies and does not in any way impair free, fair and transparent primaries.

“It is sad that the way and manner some protesters are carrying on is suggestive of the familiar practice of intending decampees from their party to weaken our party.

“I urge party members whose only goal is winning the November 26, governorship election to be vigilant.”

Kekemeke,however, noted that the party would conduct a transparent primary election ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.