The recent court-ordered removal of Hon. Oladejo Kamarudeen Adeola, councillor representing Ward 8 in Ondo West Local Government Area, has ignited outrage within the youth wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a strongly worded statement, the youths accused the party’s leadership of gross negligence, mismanagement, and a fundamental misunderstanding of electoral procedures.
At the center of their protest is APC State Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, who they allege failed to uphold the legal and procedural standards expected of his office. The youths also called out former Commissioner Mrs. Lola Fagbemi, accusing her of misleading party leaders and disregarding due process.
Electoral Irregularities
According to the youths, Adeola’s nomination to represent Ward 8—despite being a registered voter in Ward 5—violated electoral guidelines. They claim this breach, reportedly approved by Fagbemi, either stemmed from ignorance or was a deliberate political maneuver.
A court ruling has since favored Mr. Kolawole Ogundipe, who challenged Adeola’s nomination and asserted himself as the rightful candidate for Ward 8. Notably, Adeola did not attend any of the court sessions, allegedly acting on Fagbemi’s advice to stay away. While the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) had legal representation, other key respondents, including Adeola, were absent, resulting in a default judgment.
Emerging Controversies
Fresh controversies have surfaced over the legitimacy of the court’s ruling. Sources within the party allege that Ogundipe was not originally the intended replacement for Adeola. According to insiders, Taiwo Olayinka Akinboboye, popularly known as “Obe,” was initially chosen for the role. This has raised serious questions about the authenticity of documents submitted by Ogundipe and the integrity of the legal process.
Adding to the confusion, residents of Ward 8 had reportedly petitioned the APC state leadership long before the court’s decision, requesting Adeola’s replacement. Despite this, their concerns were ignored. Even Adeola, anticipating potential legal repercussions, had submitted a formal withdrawal letter, which party leaders dismissed—citing a controversial precedent in which a candidate from Ward 11 contested and won in Ward 1.
“The leadership forgot that such illegality cannot always work,” lamented one youth member. “This time, it backfired.”
Youths Defend Adeola
Despite the ruling, the APC youth wing has rallied in support of Adeola, insisting he should not bear the blame for leadership errors. They argue that he acted under the directives of senior party officials and should not be made a scapegoat for internal failings.
While an appeal may be underway, political analysts suggest that the damage to the party’s image is already substantial.
Unanswered Questions
This unfolding crisis has raised critical questions about the APC’s internal governance and accountability:
Can Engr. Ade Adetimehin genuinely claim ignorance of the electoral rules governing councillorship nominations?
Is it plausible that Mrs. Lola Fagbemi, a former councillor, was unaware of the legal and political risks involved in the nomination?
Can Hon. Bernard Aro, APC Chairman in Ondo West, deny knowledge of the legal frameworks surrounding ward representation?
For many party members and observers, the incident smacks of internal sabotage, administrative incompetence, or a calculated political vendetta.
One thing remains clear: this saga is far from over.
Signed:
Akinyele Richard
Ondo West