The Forum of Ward Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State has raised concern over the alleged assault on the party’s Ward 8 chairman, Oluwadare Olanrewaju, reportedly involving a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Community Engagement (Central), Oluwafemi Fadairo, popularly known as “Fada.”
According to party sources, a fracas allegedly broke out between Olanrewaju and Fadairo over the distribution of funds reportedly allocated to wards during Governor Aiyedatiwa’s recent thank-you tour. It was gathered that N1 million was allocated to each ward.
The forum, in a statement issued at the weekend, alleged that Fadairo led suspected thugs to attack the ward chairman over disagreements surrounding the sharing formula of the funds. Olanrewaju was said to have refused to alter the beneficiary list to favour Fadairo’s loyalists, a move the forum claimed triggered intimidation and eventual violence.
“When he refused to manipulate the list, the intimidation began. He was repeatedly harassed, trailed, and eventually beaten to the point of unconsciousness,” the statement alleged, adding that Olanrewaju was rushed to the hospital and is reportedly in a coma.
The ward chairmen described the incident as barbaric and shameful, especially as it allegedly involved someone linked to the governor’s office. They stressed that leadership should protect party members rather than endanger them, noting that anyone who promotes violence is unfit for public office.
The forum further disclosed that the matter has been reported to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Zone 17, Akure, for investigation.
Reacting to the allegation, Fadairo, who is also a House of Representatives aspirant for the Akure South/Akure North federal constituency, denied any involvement in the alleged assault. He described the claims as false and politically motivated.
“There was no day I beat him or touched him. They are cooking up lies because they know I am popular in the ward and want to weaken my political structure, but they have failed,” he said.