There were indications on Monday that the newly formed All Progressives Congress in Oyo State had started to look for a replacement for the representative of Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin.
Our correspondent learnt that the decision was taken in view of Lanlehin’s disposition to the party’s arrangement in the state.
An official of the party, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said those being touted as replacement for the Senator included Dr. Bayo Adewusi, Prof. Wole Oyemakinde, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela and Alhaji Sarafa Alli.
He said, “The position of the party, with regard to the Senator, was borne out of what is considered to be Lanlehin’s demonstration of tendencies that could endanger the future of the new party in the state.
“Much as Lanlehin could be pardoned for expressing disavowal with Governor Abiola Ajimobi over the running of the defunct ACN, he has carried this too far and he is moving towards being used to destroy the APC even ab-initio.
“This is a dangerous trend that we cannot stand. I must tell you, the overall belief here is that Lanlehin is being used by the Accord Party to destroy the APC”.
Meanwhile, Lanlehin on Monday said the APC rally held in Ibadan on Sunday was invalid.
Lanlehin, in a statement made available to our correspondent on Monday by his media aide, Olawale Sadare, described the Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led APC rally as a comedy show, which could not achieve any result.
The statement read in parts, “This is a comedy show which could not have achieved any result. In further demonstration of his dissociation with the Ajimobi group in the Oyo APC, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin condemned the Sunday rally and described it as an exercise in futility.”
The contention between Lanlehin and Ajimobi’s camp arose over the governor’s plan to secure a second term ticket on the platform of the new party, while Lanlehin has insisted on becoming the next governor of the state.