Despite being suspended by the Oyo State House of Assembly, the chairman of Iwajowa Local Government Area, Hon. Muritala Abiodun Oyewumi, was seen at the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential and governorship campaign flag-off held on Saturday at the Durbar Stadium, Oyo town.
Oyewumi was sighted among party leaders, stakeholders and supporters who thronged the venue for the official launch of the APM campaign for Governor Seyi Makinde, the party’s presidential candidate, and Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, its governorship candidate, alongside other National and State Assembly candidates.
The Suspension
Recall that the Oyo State House of Assembly had, at its plenary, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Abiodun Fadeyi, asked four local government chairmen to step aside to allow investigation into petitions alleging gross misconduct and financial impropriety.
The affected chairmen are Hon. Timothy Oyeniyi of Ogbomoso South, Hon. Olateju Michael Alabi of Oriire, Hon. Adegbite Isaiah of Surulere, and Hon. Muritala Abiodun Oyewumi of Iwajowa.
According to the House Majority Leader, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, the House acted in line with its constitutional oversight responsibility to ensure accountability and transparency in local government administration.
Adedoyin explained that the affected chairmen were to be replaced by their vice chairmen in acting capacity, pending the outcome of investigations and the final determination of the House through its committee report.
The House Committee on Local Government Matters was mandated to investigate the allegations and submit its findings within one week for further legislative action.
Why Oyewumi’s Case Stands Out
Oyewumi’s suspension has attracted particular attention because of the political twist surrounding it.
Three of the four suspended chairmen — Oyeniyi, Alabi and Isaiah — had defected from the APM to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Oyewumi remains in the APM.
The three joined the APC at a rally in Ogbomoso alongside former Chief of Staff to Governor Makinde, Segun Ogunwuyi.
Oyewumi, by contrast, stayed back in the APM, the party on whose platform he was elected and which Governor Makinde now leads as its presidential candidate.
His appearance at Saturday’s rally is therefore being interpreted by political observers as a public demonstration of loyalty to the APM and Governor Makinde.
