A leadership crisis has erupted in the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following the purported removal of the State Chairman, Princess Oyeronke Bolajoko, by a group of party executives, aspirants and members.
The group, at a press conference held at the party’s state secretariat in Ibadan on Monday, announced Bolajoko’s removal and named Akeem Aderogba as her replacement.
The State Secretary of the party, Adeolu Adewuyi, who addressed journalists on behalf of the group, said the decision was driven by the need to protect the party’s unity, internal democracy and constitutional principles, rather than personal grievances or political vendetta.
Adewuyi accused Bolajoko of allegedly suspending principal party executives without following due process or granting them a fair hearing.
He argued that the alleged unilateral action violated the party’s constitution and raised questions about the chairman’s commitment to internal democracy.
The group further accused her of abuse of office, administrative high-handedness and a lack of transparency and accountability in the management of the party’s affairs and resources.
According to Adewuyi, party members deserve clarity on how the party’s resources are managed and the decisions taken on their behalf.
Also speaking at the briefing, the NDC Campaign Director-General in Oyo State, Adeola Ebisemiju-Olamide, announced Aderogba as the new chairman, describing the move as a collective decision aimed at restoring accountability, unity and democratic discipline in the state chapter.
The group subsequently called on the national leadership of the NDC to intervene, investigate the allegations and take appropriate steps in line with the party’s constitution.
It also appealed to party members to remain calm, law-abiding and committed to the ideals of the party.
However, reacting to the development, Bolajoko rejected the purported removal, insisting that those behind the decision lacked the constitutional authority to remove her.
She described the action as illegal, arguing that the individuals involved were largely candidates and not recognised party executives empowered to remove a state chairman.
“This is not how to remove a party chairman. Those who carried out the illegality are not the party executives. They are candidates. Candidates don’t have the power to remove executives of the party,” she said.
