The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state has ratified the indefinite suspension of its ward chairman in Arigidi/Iye Ward 1, Mr. Olumide Awolumate, for assault on a female Commissioner.
The leaders and stakeholders of the party in Akoko North West Local Government area of the state met in Okeagbe, where the decision was taken, and communicated to the state chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin.
The action of the local chapter is in line with the directive of the state secretariat in Akure on Monday, after the show of shame penultimate Saturday.
According to the party, the suspended ward executive member engaged in violent, deplorable and condemnable conduct that has dragged the state government, and the party’s image into serious disrepute.
The letter read in part, “In furtherance to the above, the leadership of the party in Akoko North West deem it fit to officially inform the state secretariat that Awolumate Olumide is hereby suspended indefinitely from the party in Akoko North West of our great party”.
According to the state publicity secretary of the party, Alex Kalejaye, Engr. Adetimehin, on receipt of the suspension letter, assured that the state secretariat would set up a formidable disciplinary Committee immediately to ensure that the suspended Awolumate is appropriately punished, to serve as deterrent to other leaders and members of the party.
Amid the controversy surrounding the assault of the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in the state, Mrs. Bunmi Osadahun, the suspended ward Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akoko North West Ward 1, Olumide Awolumate, has explained the reasons for his altercation with the government official.
Awolumate explained that the Commissioner invaded his home along with her son, a police officer and another young man to arrest him adding that he never resisted arrest, but the Commissioner’s son pounced on him.
Awolumate, however, noted that the confrontation resulted in a fracas which lasted for some minutes with the commissioner and her son beating him while he merely defended himself.
Narrating the incident, the APC ward Chairman said: “what happened is that we had a meeting at the local government level, at the house of a leader, Pa Akeju, where we talked about the party, in which the commissioner for woman affairs talked about the palliatives that was distributed sometimes ago.
“The commissioner disclosed that the palliatives had been given to different sectors, and at that junction I raised my hand as the ward chairman of the party that the ten bags that suppose to be in my custody did not get to me. I noted that some groups had been given, which include (PDP), artisans and groups and noted that ours should be sent to me as the chairman for distribution.
“I raised this issue in the presence of all the leaders of the party, and the Commissioner objected to to this, saying she was the head of that committee at the state level, but I objected my non-inclusion in the sharing of the palliative, as I was not invited.
He said this led to an argument and he was prevailed upon to leave the meeting . While I was home with my family playing ludo when I saw the commissioner in company of her son and the police office”.