Asabari LCDA Boss Sacked Over Attendance at Oriyomi Hamzat’s Rally

The fragile political coalition in Oyo State has suffered another major blow with the dismissal of Hon. Kolade Felix, the Political Head of Asabari Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Saki. The termination of his appointment was reportedly triggered by his visible presence at the gubernatorial declaration of popular broadcaster and Accord Party aspirant, Oriyomi Hamzat, held recently at the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan.

Hon. Kolade Felix, a chieftain of the Accord Party, was one of the beneficiaries of Governor Seyi Makinde’s "government of unity," having been appointed as the administrator of the Asabari LCDA following the coalition that helped secure Makinde’s second term in 2023. However, his decision to openly identify with Hamzat’s "Òyó N' Pe Ọ́ Movement"—which has positioned itself as a challenger to the current PDP administration—was viewed by the government as an act of gross insubordination and disloyalty.

Sources close to the Saki West Local Government indicated that the sack letter was issued almost immediately after images and reports of Felix’s attendance at the Ibadan rally surfaced. The government’s stance appears to be that political appointees, regardless of their original party affiliations, must maintain loyalty to the incumbent administration or resign if they wish to pursue opposing political interests. Felix’s presence at an event where the current administration’s policies were critiqued was interpreted as "biting the hand that feeds him."

The sacking marks a definitive end to the political honeymoon between the Governor’s camp and the faction of the Accord Party loyal to the new "Third Force" movement. While Felix has not yet issued a formal reaction to his dismissal, his allies argue that his removal is politically motivated and an attempt to stifle democratic expression. They contend that as a member of the Accord Party, he retained the right to support a candidate from his own party, despite his government appointment.

This development has heightened tensions in the Oke-Ogun region, where Felix holds significant sway. It also sends a stern warning to other non-PDP appointees within the Makinde administration: political ambivalence will no longer be tolerated as the countdown to the 2027 general elections begins in earnest. The vacant position at Asabari LCDA is expected to be filled promptly, likely by a loyalist who aligns more closely with the Governor’s succession plan.