Ismaeel Uthman
THERE was commotion at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja yesterday where the screening of the State of Osun governorship aspirants took place.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the commotion emanated from political exuberance of supporters of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and those of former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti.
Oyetola, Adeoti and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuff were screened by the APC Screening Committee ahead of the February 19, 2022 governorship primary of the party yesterday.
According to some APC members, Oyetola arrived the secretariat few minutes before 2pm.
He was accompanied by the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2018 gubernatorial election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, the Director General, IleriOluwa Campaign Organisation, Hon. Ajibola Famurewa, APC members and drummers.
Adeoti, according to the APC members, arrived the secretariat at 2:15pm and was welcomed by his supporters and well-wishers who had been waiting for him.
Yussuff, the former deputy speaker of the House of Reps, arrived later with just an aide, it was gathered.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that supporters of both Oyetola and Adeoti started singing political songs in favour of their aspirants who had gone for the screening exercise.
But the songs, it was gathered, were later laced with insulting and provocative languages which got both factions out of their calmness.
According to the APC members, the development resulted into threats and harassment of one another as the two groups became hostile to each other.
However, the nerves of the factions were calmed by security agents and some leaders who prevailed on them.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered the hostility continued when Oyetola was leaving the Secretariat after his screening.
It was reported that security agents on the Oyetola’s entourage attempted to push Adeoti’s supporters away, leaving the governor’s supporters untouched.
According to some of the APC members, Adeoti supporters resisted the security agents, asking them to also push Oyetola’s supporters away as well.
The medium gathered that the development resulted to hot altercations between the security agents, Adeoti and Oyetola’s supporters.
It was learnt that the Chief Security Officer to Oyetola, Mr Ismail Dauda, lost his temper before he was calmed by Famurewa.
However, Oyetola was escorted out of the building while Adeoti left about an hour later.
