The crisis rocking the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, took another twist following the filing of a libel suit by the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Omowunmi Isaac, and her brother, Kunle Odide, against 35 elders of the party.
The suit, filed against the leaders of the party, stemmed from an alleged defamatory publication that the claimants said was designed to damage their reputation and standing within the party.
One of the defendants and lead counsel representing himself and several co-defendants, Adekola Olawoye (SAN), confirmed that the defendants are open to an out-of-court settlement to resolve the dispute.
Olawoye stated that the 35 accused individuals are party leaders and elders from the same local council as the claimants.
IN another development, stakeholders from government, the legal profession, traditional institutions, the media, finance and other sectors converged in Akure, the Ondo State capital, for the fourth Yemie Fash Online News Platform interactive session and dinner, where participants renewed calls for collective action to tackle insecurity and strengthen democratic governance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Olawoye noted that the defendants had initially come to court prepared to challenge the court’s jurisdiction and the competence of the claimants’ processes through a preliminary objection.
He added that the claimants had since filed an application to correct defects in their filings, which the defendants did not oppose.
However, counsel to the claimants, Olaoluwa Imoru, said that the suit was on an alleged libellous publication authored and signed by the 35th defendant in a national daily on February 2, 2026.
Imoru said the claimants are seeking declarations that the publication was “extremely defamatory,” “disparaging,” and “needless,” in addition to claiming aggravated, special, and general damages over the alleged injury to their reputation.
Consequently, the court awarded costs of N100,000 in favour of each of the 35 defendants, totalling N3.5 million, before adjourning the matter to October 8, 2026.
The court also ordered that the parties must maintain the status quo ante bellum, meaning they are not to take any further action or communicate about the issue until the case is determined.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who spoke at the event, urged Nigerians to place the nation’s interest above personal considerations, stressing that patriotism, unity and collective responsibility remain essential to achieving lasting peace, security and sustainable development.
In a keynote address, former Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Prof. Femi Mimiko, warned that Nigeria’s aspiration for credible elections and sustainable development would remain difficult to achieve unless the country’s worsening security challenges were addressed through comprehensive reforms.
Earlier, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Adeolu Gboyega, described the yearly gathering as a platform for stakeholders to interrogate pressing national issues and generate practical ideas to strengthen governance and advance national development.
Also in a goodwill message, Minister of Finance, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele, represented by his Special Adviser on Media Strategy, commended the initiative, calling it a timely platform for national dialogue and policy reflection.
Similarly, an aide to the President of the Senate and Administrator of the YFON Platform, Ewatomilola Owoeye, expressed optimism that Nigeria would overcome its current security challenges.
She urged citizens to continue supporting efforts to restore peace, strengthen democratic institutions and advance national development.