A fresh crisis appears to be unfolding within the Edo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after several prominent party figures were reportedly denied access to a closed-door meeting convened by a party leader, John Odigie-Oyegun.
Those said to have been shut out of the meeting, which was held on Monday at Odigie-Oyegun’s residence in the Government Reservation Area, include former Senate Chief Whip Rowland Owie; one of the party’s founders and financiers in the state, Sunny Aguebor; and a national leader of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Douglas Iyike, among others.
It was gathered that the meeting was scheduled by Odigie-Oyegun, but tensions arose when some party members arrived at the venue only to discover that their names were not on the list of invitees.
The aggrieved members reportedly protested at the entrance of Odigie-Oyegun’s residence, demanding access to the meeting. The situation later attracted police officers said to have been deployed from the state command. After discussions with the officers, the protesting members eventually vacated the premises.
Speaking with journalists, Owie criticised the development and called on the national leadership of the ADC to intervene.
“We are founding members of the ADC. We were supposed to have a meeting today. Chief John Oyegun, who has not done anything to support the party in this state, is calling non-members to a meeting and excluding those who are statutory members,” Owie said.
He further alleged that a senatorial meeting had been postponed multiple times and accused Odigie-Oyegun of sidelining party loyalists who had been mobilising support across the state.
“As we are talking, we have been everywhere in this state, especially here in Edo South, raising members for the party. Ask him how many people he has attracted to this party,” he added.
Owie also referenced Odigie-Oyegun’s past role as former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging a pattern of leadership style that, according to him, led to his removal.
“We are telling the national leadership of the party that enough is enough for John Oyegun. This was how he behaved as the national chairman of the APC, and he was removed with ease. Enough is enough; he cannot disrespect those who are building the party,” Owie said.
When contacted for comment, Odigie-Oyegun said he was still in a party leadership meeting and would respond to the issue later.
Credit: Punch
