As the Oyo State House of Assembly reconvenes for legislative duties following a six-week recess, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has voiced serious concerns regarding alleged schemes by Governor Seyi Makinde's loyalists. The party claims these plans are aimed at harassing and victimising Hon. Ibrahim Shittu, the representative for Saki West State Constituency. Olawale Sadare, the APC's publicity secretary, issued a statement in Ibadan, commending state residents, particularly those in Saki, for their opposition to what he described as a fraudulent loan and their rejection of the assembly leadership's and PDP’s condemnation of Hon. Shittu.

Sadare revealed that the party has unearthed plots by individuals closely associated with Governor Makinde to target Hon. Shittu. This alleged targeting stems from the assumption that Shittu was responsible for exposing the intricacies of a controversial N300 billion loan. The APC clarified that Hon. Shittu merely responded to an inquiry from his party, rather than proactively exposing details. The alleged plot includes plans to mobilise thugs to the assembly complex on Tuesday, with the intention of physically assaulting and harassing Hon. Shittu and other APC lawmakers.

Furthermore, the APC alleged that the House leadership has finalised arrangements to accuse Hon. Shittu of violating assembly rules. This accusation is reportedly a pretext to establish a 'kangaroo panel' that would subsequently hand him an indefinite suspension. Sadare characterised these developments as a deliberate attempt to stifle opposition within the state, attributing the moves to “unscrupulous elements around the governor.” He appealed to prominent personalities both within and outside the state to intervene in the matter and urged security agencies to uphold Hon. Shittu’s rights and guarantee his safety.

Hon. Shittu, an APC member, recently gained public attention after disassociating himself from the assembly’s contentious approval of Governor Makinde’s N300 billion loan request. The approval of this substantial loan has been mired in controversy, as it was reportedly passed by only 13 out of the 32 assembly members, raising significant questions about the adherence to due process in its passage.