By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Calls for intervention by leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have intensified following fresh allegations and widening internal divisions within the party in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State.
A party stakeholder, Oloye Salami Oluwaseun, has publicly questioned the leadership of the Council Chairman, Hon. Moyosore Ogunlewe, raising concerns over what he described as persistent controversies surrounding the administration.
In a strongly worded statement, Salami queried why Ogunlewe appears to be the only local government chairman in Lagos State frequently associated with negative media attention. He also challenged recent claims made by commentator Abioye Oshodi, insisting that both the commentator and those behind the allegations must provide verifiable evidence in line with public expectations.
Salami attributed the ongoing crisis to what he described as the imposition of “a stranger and opportunists” on the people, noting that the party is now grappling with the consequences of that decision.
Reflecting on earlier developments, he acknowledged that a former Supervisory Councillor for Boundary Matters, Hon. Ganiyu Oyebanjo, had previously raised concerns about the situation in the local government but was largely ignored due to party loyalty. Salami disclosed that he had initially supported Ogunlewe during the build-up to the last local government elections, a stance that led to legal disputes involving Oyebanjo.
In a notable development, Salami announced the withdrawal of all legal actions against Oyebanjo and his associate, Ashroff Oyebanjo, citing the spirit of forgiveness associated with the Lenten season and the recently concluded Ramadan fast.
The statement also highlighted allegations of intimidation and internal divisions within the party. Salami claimed that individuals perceived to be loyal to the party establishment have faced coordinated attacks, including through social media, while accusing some actors of attempting to dominate party and government structures without adequate competence or consensus.
Although he clarified that he is not aligned with another political figure, Goco, Salami commended what he described as “bold and courageous steps” taken in raising concerns over alleged financial mismanagement in the past.
He warned that the current situation poses a serious threat to the unity and future of the APC in Kosofe, drawing parallels with opposition parties that have weakened due to internal crises.
Salami, therefore, called on APC leaders at the national, state, and local levels to urgently intervene to restore order within the Kosofe chapter, stressing the need to uphold party discipline, unity, and respect for constituted authority.
He further cautioned those allegedly sponsoring media attacks to focus on governance issues rather than shifting blame, warning that continued internal strife could have lasting consequences for the party’s stability in the area.