The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the state’s education authorities of asking public school teachers to attend a meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

However, the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) denied the allegation, describing it as false.

In a statement released on Saturday by the media aide to the PDP governorship candidate, Afolabi Orekoya, the party claimed that a memo was circulated to teachers and head teachers in public primary and secondary schools, directing them to attend a meeting with Adeola at the Alake Pavilion in Abeokuta on Monday.

The PDP alleged that the directive came from TESCOM Chairman, Biodun Sanyaolu, and the Chairman of the Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria in Ogun State, Alhaji Adeosun Tajudeen Adekunle, acting on the instruction of the Executive Chairman of the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

According to the party, asking teachers to attend a political meeting is an abuse of power and a misuse of the education system.

The PDP said there was no legal or official reason for TESCOM or SUBEB to order teachers to leave their duties and attend a meeting with a political candidate.

The party also claimed that teachers were told to appear in different uniforms based on their branches, saying this showed the event was a political gathering rather than an official meeting.

The opposition party urged the state government to allow teachers to focus on educating children instead of involving them in politics. It also called on TESCOM and SUBEB to concentrate on improving school facilities, teachers’ welfare and the quality of education.

The PDP added that forcing civil servants to attend political events is illegal, unfair and unacceptable.

Reacting to the allegations, TESCOM Chairman Biodun Sanyaolu denied that teachers were compelled to attend the meeting.

He said neither TESCOM nor SUBEB issued any directive, explaining that the meeting was requested by teachers’ unions because they wanted an interactive session with Senator Adeola.

Sanyaolu said Adeola had supported the unions over the past four years and had also held meetings with other groups, including farmers, market women and the Nigeria Labour Congress.

He maintained that the unions organised the meeting on their own and that no teacher was forced to attend.