The crisis rocking the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress escalated on Thursday following allegations of an orchestrated plot to invade and disrupt a peaceful stakeholders’ gathering scheduled to hold in Ibadan.
The Central Progressive Conference Committee, a prominent group within the state chapter, raised the alarm in a press statement made available to journalists, warning that any attempt to attack or intimidate party members would be met with stiff resistance.
Although the group withheld the identity of the lawmaker, it alleged that a serving Senator and some undemocratic forces within his camp were actively mobilizing political thugs to halt the lawful assembly.
”It has come to our knowledge that there are rumors of plans by a serving Senator and some undemocratic elements in his camp to send thugs to disrupt this legitimate and peaceful gathering,” the committee stated.
The group maintained that every member of the APC retains the constitutional right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly, emphasizing that no individual holds sole ownership of the party structure in the state.
”We wish to make this abundantly clear: our meeting is peaceful and lawful. Any person, no matter how highly placed, who attempts to disrupt, attack, or intimidate peaceful party members today will be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order,” the statement warned.
Confirming that security agencies had been formally notified ahead of the event, the stakeholders called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services to guarantee adequate protection and swiftly apprehend prospective troublemakers.
”Violence is not progressivism. The APC is a party of ideas, not thuggery. Anyone who resorts to thuggery to silence dissenting voices has lost the moral legitimacy to lead,” the committee added, urging attending members to remain resolute yet law-abiding.