Leadership crisis hits Ondo State IPAC

The Ondo State chapter of the Inter-Party
Advisory Council (IPAC) has been
enmeshed in leadership crisis following the
removal of the deputy chairman of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Fatai
Adams as the chairman of the
organization.
The body made up of political parties with
the exception of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC), explained that the removal
of Adams as the chairman was as a result
of the crisis in the PDP, which has
factionalised it into two major groups.
In particular, it complained that members
have been confused on whom to relate
with between the Clement Faboyede-led
faction of the PDP and that of Prince Biyi
Poroye’s faction in the state.
But a section of IPAC led by the stat
secretary, Mr. Lawrence Kehinde and the
public relations officer (PRO), Engr.
Fagboro Oluwole, weekend, spurned the
removal of Adams and instead passed a
vote of confidence on him.
Those that allegedly removed Adams
explained that with the Court of Appeal
judgment, which upheld Alli Modu
Sheriff’s chairmanship of PDP, it was
compelled to remove Adams since he
emerged chairman through the Ahmed
Makarfi’s National Caretaker Committee
that was derecognised by the court.
“Consequent upon the February 17th
judgment of the Appeal Court which
declared the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led
executive of the PDP on which Fatai Adams
emerged the chairperson of IPAC in
October 2016, illegal and thus nullified the
May 21, 2016 convention of the PDP
faction in which Adams belongs, that Hon.
Fatai Adams seizes to be the State
Chairperson of IPAC in Ondo State,” they
stated in a communiqué endorsed by
chairmen and secretaries of the registered
political parties in the state.
In his place, Mr. Atanlogun Olanrewaju
Iginla of KOWA party, who was deputy to
Adams, was installed chairperson of IPAC
in the state forthwith.
Other executive members of the body
included Dr. Femi Famakinwa, the
Secretary; Princess Awosika Ogunyokun,
the Treasurer; and Mr. Oshoro Akinsola
Benson, Financial Secretary.
They requested all political parties,
security agencies and government and non-
government organisation to take note of
the changes. But Adams dismissed the
action of Iginla and his executive and
describing it as laughable. According to
him, there was no justification for the
action.
Adams contended that he was the one
elected as chairman of IPAC and not Iginla,
wondering what was their business with
an internal matter within the PDP.
He alleged that the action of the faction of
the IPAC was being fuelled by poverty and
the need to impress the new APC’s
government in the state. “We have just
finished with the meeting of the State
Executive Council of IPAC. When I did not
see Iginla, he said he was busy not
knowing he has another sinister motive.
He is somebody to be ignored,” he said.
Also, in a communiqué issued by Kehinde
and Oluwole at the end of IPAC meeting in
Akure, they maintained that there is no
crisis in IPAC and that Adams remains
their chairman.
They congratulated the state governor, Mr.
Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and his
deputy, Mr. Agboola Ajayi respectively, as
well as pledged the state chapter’s loyalty
to the national executive body of IPAC.
“That the body passes a vote of confidence
on Hon. Fatal Adams-led State Executives
of IPAC, Ondo State. And finally, that there
is no issues, crisis or faction in the
association of all political parties in Ondo
State under the umbrella of IPAC,” it stated
in the communiqué.
Similarly, the PDP director of publicity in
the state, Mr. Ayo Fadaka, faulted the
decision of the body, claiming that their
action is a clear case of conspiracy.
He maintained that Adams was legally
elected in line with the constitution and
regulations of the IPAC, saying: “I want to
say without any reservation that the
excuse put forward for his removal is not
justifiable and absurd.”
Meanwhile, the national secretariat of
Allied Congress Party Of Nigeria (ACPN) has
suspended Ondo State chairman of the
party, Mr. Bosun Omosule, over allegations
of corruption and anti party activities.
The party’s deputy national chairman, Mr.
Moruf Ogundare, explained that the
decision was based on the
recommendations of the five-man
committee set up to probe the charges
which purportedly took place during the
last governorship election.
Apart from Omosule, the party also
suspended the state secretary, Mr.
Oluwaseye Emmanuel Akintoye and the
public relations officer (PRO), Mr. Alade
Adeniyi.
Consequently, a five-man caretaker
committee headed by Alhaji Bello Olawale
was set up to run the affairs of the party in
the state. All attempts to reach Omosule
for comments were abortive as his
numbers were switched off.