Offa APC Crisis Deepens: Lawmakers, Deputy Senate Leader Locked Out of Party Secretariat as Chairman Denounces Stakeholders’ Meeting

By Omowumi Omotosho

The internal crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Offa Local Government Area intensified on Tuesday as two Kwara State House of Assembly members and the Deputy Senate Leader were locked out of the party’s Secretariat, prompting an impromptu relocation of their stakeholders’ meeting to the Offa Descendants Union (ODU) Hall.

It was reported that Hon. AbdulWaheed Gbenga Yusuf JK (Essa/Shawo/Igboidun) and Hon. Ogunniyi Seun Ogunniyi Adato (Ojomu/Balogun), who represent Offa at the State Assembly, were scheduled to host a party stakeholders’ engagement at the Secretariat but were denied entry by security operatives stationed at the premises. The venue was sealed without prior notice or official explanation.

The lawmakers proceeded with the meeting at the nearby mini ODU Hall, which attended by leaders across all 12 wards in Offa LGA. Among those in attendance were Senator Oyelola Yisa Ashiru (Kwara South), prominent community leaders, and several former and current party executives.

However, in a swift and strongly worded press statement issued shortly after the event, the APC Chairman in Offa LGA, Hon. Moshood Kunle Adegboye, disowned the meeting, claiming it lacked official party approval.

“I feel obliged to make some clarifications about the controversial stakeholders meeting purportedly convened by the duo of Hon. Seun Ogunniyi (Adato) and Hon. Gbenga Yusuf J.K,” Adegboye stated.

“Let me state categorically that the conveners did not inform, seek, or have the consent and approval of the party structure. As the chairman of the party, I have a responsibility to drive the party activities in line with the constitution of the party, which I swore to uphold while taking my oath of office,” he said.

Adegboye insisted that the authority to convene official party meetings rests solely with the party structure, and not with elected officials or office holders. “It should be noted that, should any member of the party feel the need for such a meeting, he or she should follow the due process to enable the party—and not him or her—call for the meeting,” he added.

In a particularly scathing section of the statement, the chairman criticized the lawmakers and even the Senator for allegedly neglecting their responsibilities toward the upkeep of the Secretariat.

“It is equally unfortunate that those seeking the use of the party Secretariat now do not contribute to its existence—not even our distinguished senator (after six years in office)—either by way of rent payment, maintenance, or other logistics that make the Secretariat habitable and attractive for their use,” Adegboye wrote.

He also questioned the timing of the gathering, calling it inappropriate in light of recent security concerns in the community. “Offa, as a community, is presently in a pensive mood as a result of the recent unfortunate kidnap of some of our brothers and sisters. APC as a ruling party shares the feelings and sympathizes with the victims and their families. We cannot afford to be seen engaging in any jamboree in whatever coloration; hence, any engagement such as this is, to say the least, ill-timed,” he said.