Crisis Looms In Osun House Of Assembly
- Our Reporter
A major crisis is looming in the Osun State House of Assembly as some lawmakers elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who joined the Accord Party lately are planning to defect to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
It was learnt that many of the lawmakers are not comfortable with their current political party, as indications already emerged that many of them may be denied a ticket to contest election in 2027.
Already, the member representing Iwo state constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon Adesina Rabiu Atanda, has joined the APC.
The lawmaker was seen in a viral picture circulating on the internet with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and some prominent leaders of the APC, including Hon Oluwole Oke, who represents Obokun/Oriade federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
It was rumoured that many other lawmakers who are of the Accord Party extraction are already planning to dump the party and pitch their tent with either the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or the APC.
The lawmakers are said to be aggrieved with the decision of the leadership of the party not to give them automatic tickets for the next year’s House of Assembly election.
In the state House of Assembly, 25 members were elected on the platform of the PDP but currently in the Accord Party after a formal declaration on the floor of the House, while one of them representing Boripe/Boluwaduro state constituency was elected on the platform of the APC.
However, it was learnt that some members of the House have signified their intentions to contest for another term, but are yet to get the consent of the party.
The lawmakers, it was gathered, are lobbying for automatic tickets, but sources said the leadership of the Accord Party did not consent to it, hence the decision by many of them to join the opposition political parties.
The lawmaker representing Iwo State constituency, Hon Atanda, had initially reversed his resignation of the Accord Party via a video posted on social media where he was seen announcing his support for Governor Ademola Adeleke.
In the said video, Hon Atanda, who was flanked by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adewale Egbedun and the spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, publicly announced that he’s determined to remain in the Accord Party and work for the re-election of Governor Adeleke.
But barely 48 hours after resigning from the Accord Party and briefly reversing his earlier decision to dump the Accord Party, Hon Atanda’s picture taken with Oyetola and prominent APC leaders featured on the internet.
Rabiu had initially announced his resignation from the Accord Party and distanced himself from Governor Ademola Adeleke, but reconsidered his move shortly after a visit by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun, and Olawale Rasheed on Monday.
Reacting to the defection, the Accord Party Chairman in Iwo, Chief Alidu Adeoye, described Rabiu as a liability and an embarrassment rather than an asset to the party.
He said, “The lawmaker had constituted serious nuisance and disappointments to his constituents from 2022 to date, the party had refrained from acting against the lawmaker.
“When he was invited to the Government House a few days ago, we knew he wouldn’t stay any longer because his request for a second term ticket is a direct violation of the zoning formula operating within the Iwo state constituency.
“Aside from his abysmal performance which has made the party a laughing stock among Iwo people, Accord cannot violate the zoning formula which confirmed that Isale Oba is the next region to produce a state lawmaker.
“We apologize to the state leadership of the party and our dear Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke for fielding and sustaining such a failed politician in the first place. We assure that the Accord Party in Iwo will never support such mediocrity again and we will deepen the hold of Accord among Iwo people,” he added.
Osun Defender reliably gathered that many other Accord Party lawmakers in the House of Assembly may defect to the ADC or APC in the coming days as many of them may not be given automatic tickets for another term.
