Police step in as Edo ADC meeting ends in standoff

The Edo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress is facing internal tensions following the exclusion of several senior members from a leadership meeting convened on Monday at the residence of party leader, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

It took the intervention of police officers from the Edo State Command to defuse the tension, as aggrieved party leaders who had gathered at the entrance of the residence were persuaded to disperse peacefully after a brief standoff.

Among those denied access were a former Chief Whip of the Senate, Sir Rowland Owie; one of the founders and financiers of the party in the state, Sunny Aguebor; and a national leader of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Douglas Iyike, among others.

It was gathered that the meeting was scheduled to be held at Odigie-Oyegun’s residence in the Government Reservation Area.

However, upon arrival, the affected members were reportedly informed that their names were not on the list of invited participants.

The aggrieved members remained at the entrance of the residence until a team of police officers from the state command intervened.

Speaking with journalists, Owie called on the national leadership of the ADC to caution Odigie-Oyegun.

We are founding members of the ADC, and 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 postponed 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 for John Oyegun. This was how he acted as the national chairman of the APC until he was removed with ease.

“Enough is enough. He cannot disrespect those who are building the party,” Owie said.

When contacted, Odigie-Oyegun stated that he was still in a leadership meeting and would respond to the issues at a later time.

Culled from punch