By Josephine Oguntoyinbo
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The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not been factionalised or in crisis over the membership registration and validation of the members of the party in the state.
The party’s Publicity Secretary in the Akure North Local Government Area, Temitope Aluko, stated this on Sunday against the backdrop that the meeting of the party was disrupted by some angry youths and the Commissioner for Works, Saka Ogunleye, who is from the local government was attacked by the angry youths.
Aluko maintained that Ogunleye was not beaten as erroneously reported, but the meeting which was attended by the party’s stakeholders from the council was disrupted while members of the party were chased away by the sponsored thugs.
He, however, explained that the meeting which was called is aimed at promoting cohesion within the party in the council ahead of the membership registration and revalidation of the members of the party in the state.
“The meeting was convened at the instance of the Chairman of the party in the local government, Mr. Joshua Eleti. It was meant to deliberate on the ways to sensitise our members in the wards to register on the 2nd February as directed by the National Secretariat.
“Every stakeholders including former and present political office holders were invited, including the Mr. Saka Yusuf Ogunleye and these were the people attacked, chased away and humiliated and not Mr. Saka Ogunleye as erroneously reported.
“We were about commencing the meeting when some sponsored thugs stormed the hall, brandishing dangerous weapons, shouting and hitting the high table saying ‘everyone must go out of this hall, this meeting cannot hold, it is illegal.”
“The peace loving members of our party left the hall and converged outside. Meanwhile, some of the women, who ran out and fell in the process out of fear sustained injuries. These miscreants joined us outside; this time threatening to deal with Mr. Saka Ogunleye.
“They were mentioning his name and accusing him of all sorts of things. But no finger or weapon was raised against him. He was not attacked in any way physically. The hoodlums ensured that we did not succeed in holding any discussion as they hurled stones over the roof of the house, where we gathered. This made the people to scamper for safety.
“What happened was not attack on Mr. Saka Ogunleye.
He, however, maintained that the party is not factionalised in the council