Osun APC crisis: Oyetola asks state chairman to withdraw court case against members

Gboyega Oyetola, governor of Osun, has asked Gboyega Famodun, the All Progressives Congress (APC) caretaker chairman in the state, to discontinue a court case instituted against some members of the party.

On August 14, a fight broke out between members said to be supporters of Oyetola, and those allegedly belonging to a faction supporting Aregbesola, minister of interior, at the APC state secretariat in Osogbo.

Several people were said to have been injured during the clash.

The clash occurred during the sitting of the appeal committee hearing petitions arising from the recent APC ward congress in the state.

Consequently, Lowo Adebiyi, chairman of the APC faction — identified as the Osun Progressives (TOP) said to be loyal to Aregebesola — and six others were, on Monday, arraigned before an Osogbo magistrates’ court for alleged conspiracy and assault.

The defendants were alleged to have, on August 14, at about 1.30pm at Ogo Oluwa, Osogbo, conspired to commit assault occasioning harm.

The defendants were also alleged to have, at the same location and time, assaulted one Hamsat Babatunde, by hitting him with a stone on the head, causing him harm.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the criminal code cap 34 vol. II laws of Osun state, 2002.

They are also said to have committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 355 of the criminal code, cap 34 vol. II, laws of Osun state of Nigeria, 2002.

Reacting in a statement by Ismail Omipidan, chief press secretary to the governor, Oyetola condemned the clash and directed the party’s chairman to withdraw the complaints and take necessary measures to discontinue the matter.

“The governor, who was away when the incident occurred had, in the wake of the crisis, directed security operatives to take charge of the party secretariat to prevent any further breakdown of law and order,” the statement reads.

“He had also condemned what he termed the unruly behaviour exhibited by some aggrieved members of the party at the APC secretariat in Osogbo.

“However, upon his return to the state on Monday, Oyetola summoned an emergency meeting of the party stakeholders and insisted that as members of the same family, whatever differences that existed could be resolved without necessarily resorting to litigation.

“The governor, who sympathised with individuals who sustained injuries during the fracas, appealed to party members not to resort to self-help whenever there were disagreements among them.

“The invasion of the party secretariat by armed thugs stands condemned as no sane society will condone the resort to self-help in settling disagreements within a family.

“But as the Governor, I have directed our party chairman to discontinue the matter in the interest of peace and harmony within the party.”