The Forum of Former Ekiti Local Government Chairmen, led by Hon. Dele Abiodun, has thrown its weight behind Yinka Dallas, insisting that no one has the power to silence or suspend them from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking during an interview with journalists, Hon. Abiodun, a former Chairman of Ekiti Local Government and the Forum’s leader, described Dallas as a committed party loyalist advocating for the betterment of the APC.
The Forum also criticized the recent claim by the Isapa Ward APC Chairman, Adewumi Daniel, that Dallas was never a member of the party, dismissing it as laughable and an attempt to suppress critical voices.
“I was shocked when I saw that statement. How can anyone claim Yinka Dallas is not a party member when he officially decamped at both the ward and local government levels, alongside myself, in the presence of the state chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi? Even the current APC local government chairman was there,” Abiodun stated.
He stressed that the party urgently needs reforms, warning that internal divisions must be addressed before they escalate into a full-blown crisis.
APC Must Embrace Inclusiveness
The Forum maintained that the APC is bigger than any individual and should be guided by the principle of inclusiveness, especially at a time when the Federal Government, under the APC, is advocating for national unity.
Hon. Abiodun accused certain party leaders of fueling unnecessary divisions for personal gain.
“We have urged our supporters to remain calm and avoid the confrontation, but it seems these individuals are not ready to address the cracks within the party. How do you think people feel in a system where our voices are ignored? Nothing grows in silence when there are critical issues to be resolved,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of former chairmen and transition committee members in Ekiti Local Government, Abiodun reaffirmed their support for Yinka Dallas, stating that if party leaders wanted to make Dallas a scapegoat, they should be prepared to suspend all of them as well.
“If they think suspending Dallas will solve the problem, then they should go ahead and suspend all of us. Let’s see how they will succeed in the local government come 2027,” he declared.
APC State Leadership is Failing the Governor
Hon. Abiodun expressed concerns that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq may not be fully aware of the extent of the internal crisis within the Kwara APC leadership.
He maintained that the governor himself is not in conflict with anyone but that certain individuals within the party are creating unnecessary political enemies.
“These individuals are the real problem. They have taken control of local and state politics, sidelining key stakeholders who worked hard for the party’s success. For three years, many of us who mobilized massively for the party have not been invited to any stakeholders’ meeting,” he lamented.
He challenged the current party executives to test their popularity in future elections.
“Let them contest another election on their own and let’s see who truly has grassroots support. We know how much we spent from our own pockets to ensure victory in past elections,” he stated.
Hon. Abiodun also accused the current party chairman of prioritizing personal gain over party unity.
“The present chairman was just a councillor when I was the local government chairman, yet now we can’t even reach him. He only cares about enriching himself through inflated contracts while neglecting party affairs,” he alleged.
He further referenced similar incidents in Offa, where he claimed that party stakeholders were sidelined during the local government primaries, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
“Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is working hard for the state, but the party structure is failing him. If things continue like this, it will affect the APC’s future,” he warned.
Dallas is Speaking the Minds of Many
Hon. Abiodun reiterated that Yinka Dallas is not speaking for himself but voicing the concerns of many party members who feel alienated.
He urged APC leaders to listen and take corrective action before it is too late.
“Dallas is speaking up because of his love for the party, and we fully support him. Only cowards will remain silent when it is clear that things are not right. The APC must return to its progressive roots, or we risk losing the trust of the people,” he concluded.
