Oyo APC Accuses Assembly of Plot Against Lawmaker Over ₦300bn Loan Dispute

The political atmosphere in Oyo State has taken a tense turn following allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the state House of Assembly is plotting to victimise one of its members, Hon. Ibrahim Shittu, representing Saki West Constituency. The opposition party claims the lawmaker is being targeted for his refusal to support Governor Seyi Makinde’s controversial ₦300 billion loan request.

In a strongly worded statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC alleged that Assembly leaders have already perfected plans to accuse Shittu of breaching House rules and subject him to what it called a “kangaroo panel” designed to hand him an indefinite suspension.

“These satanic plans and many more are being sponsored by some unscrupulous elements around the governor who profit from the various sharp practices which the current administration has perpetrated since 2019,” the statement read.

The APC further alleged that there were moves to “attack, victimise and harass” Shittu, warning that such attempts to silence him would be strongly resisted.

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APC Defends Shittu’s Stance

The opposition stressed that the lawmaker had only responded to a party inquiry regarding his role in the loan approval, and that this could not be reasonably interpreted as misconduct. The APC insisted that Shittu was exercising his democratic right to question government borrowing, particularly at a time when residents of Oyo State were grappling with economic hardship.

“We want to make it clear that any plot to suspend or intimidate Hon. Shittu for opposing the loan facility will not only be resisted but will also expose the undemocratic tendencies of the present administration,” Sadare declared.

The APC therefore called on eminent Nigerians, civil society organisations, and security agencies to intervene and protect Shittu’s rights as an elected representative.

Assembly Denies Allegations

Reacting swiftly, the Oyo State House of Assembly dismissed the APC’s claims as baseless, mischievous, and politically motivated. In a statement signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Media, Public Affairs, and ICT, Waheed Akintayo, the Assembly described the opposition’s allegations as a desperate attempt to score cheap political points.

“Let it be categorically stated that there is no plot, real or imagined, to victimise Shittu or any other lawmaker. The state Assembly remains a bastion of democracy, where all members, regardless of party affiliation, are treated with respect, fairness, and afforded the freedom to express their views,” Akintayo said.

He also dismissed APC’s claim that thugs were being mobilised against Shittu as “laughable and regrettable,” arguing that such allegations revealed more about the opposition’s own tendencies than the legislature’s.

Assembly Defends Loan Approval

The House spokesman went further to defend the ₦300 billion loan approval process, describing it as transparent, diligent, and compliant with legislative procedures.

According to Akintayo, the Assembly convened an emergency sitting because the loan facility was “essential, urgent, and expedient for the infrastructural and socio-economic development of the state.”

He noted that while the House retained the authority to discipline members who violated its rules, it remained committed to ensuring peace, fairness, and respect for the people of Oyo State.

Governor Makinde had written to Speaker Debo Ogundoyin seeking approval for the facility, which was subsequently granted by a two-thirds majority in the Assembly.

Protests Over the Loan

The loan approval has not gone without controversy. Last week, APC members in Ibadan staged a protest against what they described as Makinde’s growing appetite for borrowing.

During the demonstration, party members carried placards and chanted slogans against the governor’s financial policies. They accused him of turning Oyo into a “perpetual loan collector” and argued that the new borrowing would burden future generations with unsustainable debt.

One of the protest leaders declared, “We are here to show our support to him (Shittu) for taking a bold step to stand against the loan. We are behind him. We are here to tell the governor that he should not make the state a perpetual loan collector.”

Rising Political Tension

The standoff between the APC and the state Assembly highlights the widening rift between the opposition and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in Oyo. While the APC frames its resistance as a fight for accountability and transparency, the Assembly insists that the opposition is exploiting the issue to create unnecessary political tension.

Observers note that Shittu’s fate in the House could become a test case for how far dissent is tolerated within Oyo’s political landscape. If he faces disciplinary measures, it may deepen claims that the Makinde administration is intolerant of opposition voices. Conversely, if the allegations prove baseless, the APC could face backlash for spreading misinformation.

For now, residents of Oyo State watch closely as the drama unfolds, torn between concerns over the state’s rising debt profile and assurances from government officials that the loan will drive much-needed infrastructural development.