By Toyeeb Omotayo
In a surprising turn of events, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Igbaja Ward in Kwara State has rejected the relocation of its ward secretariat by Hon. Gbenga Power, a prominent member of the party.
It would be recalled the Hon. Gbenga Power had donated a new ward secretariat to the party yesterday after organising an inter denomination prayer session.
However while addressing a press conference today in Igbaja the Publicity Secretary in the ward Mallam Abdulkareem Abdulfattah said, Gbenga Power and the party chairman in Ifelodun Alhaji Abdullateef Kadir, saying that the decision was taken without due consultation and that it was not in the best interest of the party.
The Publicity Secretary who argued that the current location of the ward secretariat was strategically located and had been the center of the party’s activities in the ward, added that the party rejected in totality all action taken at the meeting held yesterday as the authentic authority to convene such meeting has no knowledge of it.
According to him ” The first Ward meeting after the elections was also held on 17th June, 2023 to discuss party activities and ratified the resolutions of the Ward EXCO on the Chairmanship issue.
“The meeting resolved unanimously to investigate and suspend seven members out of 27 Exco members who were regarded as black legs that were romancing with Gbenga Oyekunle aka Gbenga Power to cause rift in the party.
“The suspended members were given two weeks to retrace their steps or face expulsion from the party. All decisions were accordingly communicated to the local government Chairman, Alh Abdullateef Kadir at various times.
“We also communicated the factionalisation plan of the party by Gbenga Oyekunle through the sponsorship of alternative party Secretariat and install his puppet Ward Exco to be led by Raheem Arije who had forfeited his rights to retain the Ward Chairmanship at reconciliatory meeting held before the elections where he voluntarily accepted the leadership of Alh Daud Afolabi as Ward Chairman,” he said.
Abdulfattah revealed that seven 7 members of the Ward 1 Exco have been expelled from the party saying their actions have brought the party into unnecessary controversy and disrepute.
According to him “The suspended members are Raheem Arije, Omokeye Adeola, Ibrahim Awobimpe, Segun Awoyemi, Idowu Fatai Kadir, Ganiyu Olaitan, Bayo Wojuaye,” he said.
He added that the party rejected the back door entry into the party of Hon. Gbenga Power also called for the investigation of the party chairman in Ifelodun local government area.
“That we reject the backdoor re-entry of Gbenga Oyekunle to the party as he failed to meet the required provisions of the party’s constitution. In fact, we can no longer tolerate him and stands rejected to rejoin the party, his Greek gift notwithstanding.
“We hasten to say that it was within the so called unfit Ward Secretariat, we planned and executed the successful 2023 elections and brought glory to Igbaja and the party.
“We also appreciate our appointed public officers for been good Ambassadors of Igbaja people in the government of Gov AA administration.
“That the activities of Alh Abdullateef Kadir be investigated as he demonstrated that his leadership of the party at local government level is a cash and carry affairs,” he said .
