The crisis rocking the Allied People’s Movement (APM) has taken a new dimension as five Oyo State officers of the party have dragged its National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, and National Secretary, Oyadeyi Ayodele Adebayo, before the Federal High Court, Ibadan, over alleged violation of the party’s tenure provisions.
The plaintiffs, the Oyo State Deputy Chairman, John Adejumo; Secretary, Oke Ademola; Assistant Secretary, Aderoju Bolatito; Treasurer, Babajide Musa; and Assistant Treasurer, Lamidi Quadri — are asking the court to remove the two national officers over allegations that they are serving a third term in office.
The suit, marked FHC/IB/CS/122/2026, also joined the APM and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first and fourth defendants respectively.
In the originating summons, the plaintiffs contended that Dantalle and Adebayo, having served two consecutive four-year terms in their respective offices, were no longer eligible to contest or be re-elected for a third substantive term.
They urged the court to interpret Articles 14(a) and 14(b) of the APM Constitution alongside Section 223 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to determine whether an elected party officer who has served two consecutive terms could lawfully seek a third term in the same office.
The plaintiffs are also seeking an order restraining INEC from recognising, accepting or acting on the re-election of the second and third defendants as National Chairman and National Secretary of the APM.
They further asked the court to determine whether the party’s General Congress or Convention could lawfully authorise, approve or ratify the election of any officer in a manner that would confer a third substantive tenure, allegedly in violation of the party’s constitution.
The plaintiffs also want the court to determine whether INEC can lawfully recognise or act upon any notice, resolution or election result from the APM purporting to return the national chairman and secretary for a third term.
Speaking with journalists, the plaintiffs alleged that the Oyo State Chairman of the party, Otunba Fagbemi Adegbenro, was also serving a third term in office.
The suit is the latest development in the internal crisis within the party, with the plaintiffs insisting that the provisions of the APM Constitution and the 1999 Constitution must be strictly observed in determining the tenure of elected party officers.