Ogun PDP accuses TESCOM of mobilising teachers to attend Yayi meeting

By James Ogunnaike

The media office of the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate has accused the state government of allegedly politicising the education sector, following a directive purportedly requiring public school teachers and head teachers to attend a meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola aka Yayi.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Media Aide to the PDP governorship candidate, Afolabi Orekoya, the opposition party described the alleged directive as an abuse of power and called for an immediate end to what it termed the use of public institutions for partisan political purposes.

According to the statement, a memo circulating within the Ogun State public school system, allegedly issued by leaders of various teachers’ bodies on the instruction of the Chairman of the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Alhaji Comrade Adeosun Tajudeen Adekunle, under a purported directive from the Executive Chairman of the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), directed head teachers and teachers in both primary and secondary schools to attend a meeting scheduled for August 3, 2026, at the Alake Pavilion in Abeokuta.

The statement alleged that the meeting was organised with the APC governorship candidate under the guise of “statutory and administrative duties.”

Reacting to the development, the PDP campaign office said it “unequivocally condemns this blatant abuse of power and the weaponisation of the State’s civil service for partisan political mobilisation.”

It argued that there was “absolutely no statutory or administrative justification” for TESCOM and SUBEB to compel teachers to leave their official responsibilities for what it described as a political meeting.

“The instruction for each branch to appear in unique attire for easy identification further exposes this gathering for what it truly is; a political jamboree and a forced solidarity parade, forcefully utilising our respected educators as political pawns,” the statement said.

The opposition further maintained that the state’s education sector and civil service should remain politically neutral, stressing that teachers should not be drawn into partisan activities.

“Our teachers are nation-builders entrusted with the future of our children, not political foot soldiers to be marshalled at the whims of the ruling party. Coercing civil servants into attending political gatherings under the threat of administrative duty is illegal, unethical and highly oppressive,” the statement added.

Describing the alleged directive as “strange, draconian and condemnable,” the PDP campaign urged education authorities to focus on improving the quality of public education instead of engaging in political mobilisation.

“The TESCOM and SUBEB should focus on addressing the decay in our public schools, improving teachers’ welfare and strengthening the standard of basic education in Ogun State, rather than acting as a mobilisation wing for a political agenda,” the statement said.

The opposition also appealed to teachers, head teachers and other civil servants to remain committed to their professional responsibilities.

“Do not be intimidated. Your loyalty is to the State and the laws of the land, not to any individual’s political ambition,” it stated.

The statement concluded by warning against what it described as attempts to undermine the neutrality of public institutions, insisting that residents of the state would continue to resist actions capable of compromising the integrity of the civil service.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Ogun State Government, the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), nor the APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), had responded to the allegations contained in the statement.

While reacting to the allegation, the Chairman of TESCOM, Biodun Sanyaolu, denied issuing any directive compelling teachers to attend the meeting.

Sanyaolu said neither TESCOM nor SUBEB instructed teachers to participate, insisting that the meeting was requested by the teachers’ unions.

“The position of the opposition party is a blatant lie. Yayi has done so much for the unions in the last four years. They are the ones who requested to have an interactive session with him.

“As a person who is a candidate, he will gladly accept the request just as he has met several groups, farmers, market women, NLC, etc. You would have noticed that each of the unions did their fliers.

“They are very excited and happy to meet with Yayi. We never at TESCOM and SUBEB mandated anyone, please,” Sanyaolu said.