A leadership crisis has emerged in the Edo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress as several prominent party figures were reportedly denied access to a scheduled meeting at the residence of the party’s National Leader and former governor of the state, Chief John Odigie Oyegun.
Among those said to have been shut out were former Chief Whip of the Senate, Sir Rowland Owie; one of the party’s founders and financiers in the state, Sunny Aguebor; and Douglas Iyike, a national leader of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, alongside other members.
Sources disclosed that the meeting was convened at Odigie Oyegun’s residence, but upon arrival, some members were presented with a list of invited participants and informed that they were not included.
The development reportedly angered the affected members, who gathered at the entrance of the residence in protest. The situation was later brought under control after police officers said to have been deployed from the State Command intervened and persuaded the members to disperse.
Speaking with journalists, Owie called on the national leadership of the party to caution Odigie Oyegun.
He said, “We that are here, are founding members of the ADC, we are 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. As a matter of fact, the senatorial meeting was to be called up to four or five times, he stopped it, he will postpone it. As we are talking, we have been everywhere in this state, especially here in Edo South where we are right now raising members for the party, ask him how many people he has attracted to this party.
“We are telling the National leadership of the party that enough is enough of John Oyegun, this was how he was 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.”
When contacted, Odigie Oyegun said he was still in a leadership meeting and would respond to the issues raised after the conclusion of the meeting.
