The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oyo ADC

  • Aggrieved Oyo ADC governorship aspirants withdraw suit against Lanlehin

    Five of the aggrieved governorship aspirants who filed a suit against the candidature of Oyo State African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, have withdrawn from the case to work for his election on March 2.

    They are: Taofeek Arapaja and Chief Lowo Obisesan, Senator Gbenga Babalola, Chief Oluseye Opatoki and Wale Adegoke.

    They said the decision to withdraw the suit was taken by the concerned parties.

    The aspirants declared their withdrawal and support at the weekend at a rally of the party at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, the state capital.

    The development brought a reprieve to Lanlehin and other chieftains of the party in the state.

    Three of the ADC aggrieved aspirants – Dr Kola Balogun, Dr Nureni Adeniran and Mr Rauf Olaniyan – had joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), leaving nine others behind.

    Chief Sharafadeen Alli also left the party to pick the ticket of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    It was learnt that a former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola brokered the peace with Lanlehin.

    Arapaja and Obisesan said the decision to withdraw the suit was borne out of their interest to ensure success for ADC at the polls as well as the gentlemanly disposition of Lanlehin, who they said they had nothing personal against.

    Arapaja said: “There is nothing like do-or-die in our own politics. All power belongs to God. The strife is over and the battle done. In politics, we have often times used consensus arrangement to select candidates. But the problem came when one of the leaders started playing hide and seek with us.

    “We were bitter about the whole thing, but not to the extent of going after each other’s life. Those of us who slugged it out with our brother, Senator Lanlehin, for the governorship ticket of ADC have, therefore, discontinued with the case we instituted against the emergence of Senator Lanlehin.

    “Only bastards will not be angry the way we were and only bastards will shun entreaties when appealed to. I can assure you that all of us jointly took the decision to withdraw the case. We have decided to support our brother, Senator Lanlehin.”

    Oyinlola hoped ADC would form the next government in the state, judging by the formidability of the party and the calibre of its candidates.

    The former governor urged ADC members to work hard and win the state, saying: “It is when the party forms the next government in the state that there can be gain for all members.”

  • Lanlehin, others pull crowd as Oyo ADC flags off campaign in Iseyin

    With a huge crowd of supporters, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State, Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin and other candidates of the party flagged off the party’s campaign for the 2019 election in Iseyin at the weekend.

    Addressing the crowd of party members and supporters at the rally, Lanlehin said the ADC was in the race to win, pointing out that it was the credible alternative to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the country.

    If voted, the governorship hopeful promised to use the resources of the state to better the lot of the citizenry, stressing that he would run a people-oriented government. He said his government would simply make people happy by embarking on simple projects that will address their needs. “We will not go into huge wasteful contracts. We will not go into things that are not good for the development of our people. We will do simple, straightforward, realistic projects that will enhance the welfare of our people,” he promised.

    He added:  “We are going to do things that will make you happy, that will make you live a decent life.

    “Everything we’re going to do will be geared towards the progress and welfare of our people. What we want to do is to make sure that our people are well fed, well educated and housed.

    “We will make people friendly policies and make the people of the state happy. We will set up and help small scale businesses. We don’t need to go overseas. Everything we need is here.

    “Our policies will be centered on the people. The most important thing is to see to the happiness of the people. So all policies, all activities, all actions will be geared towards reducing the suffering of our people and ensuring their progress.”

    Specifically, Lanlehin pledged to concentrate on agriculture to rejuvenate the economy of the state, adding that he would improve inter-city roads to facilitate better transport of goods and people.

    “To a large extent, we’ll concentrate on agriculture which will bring food to the table of our people and concentrate on cottage industries which will process and add value to some of the farm products produced by our people so that at the end of the day, they will be self sufficient.

    “I will make sure that there’s interconnectivity between the towns. The roads between the towns are so bad. We must make sure they are in good order,” Lanlehin stated.

    Earlier, during a courtesy visit to Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba AbdulGaniyu Salau, Lanlehin promised to build a tertiary institution in Iseyin if voted. “We will build a befitting tertiary institution in Iseyin because Iseyin people are learned”. He said.

    He also promised to construct new roads in Iseyin and the entire Oke Ogun if given a chance.

    In his response, Oba Salau expressed his appreciation to the party leaders for choosing Iseyin for the flag-off and wished the candidates well.

     

     

     

  • Oyo ADC: More supporters ditch Ladoja for Lanlehin

    Many loyalists of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja in Ibadan declared their decision to stay back in African Democratic Congress (ADC) and support the party’s guber candidate, Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin, rather than follow the former governor to Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). Their decision was announced by leaders of the support group in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The meeting, which was moderated by Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe, who is the ADC House of Representatives candidate for Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency, was attended by over 100 loyalists of the former governor. While they insisted that Ladoja remains their leader, they said they will support ADC and Lanlehin, who was introduced to them by the former governor.

    In a three point-communique released after the election, they announced their continued membership of the ADC. “While the group will continuously recognise and respect the leadership of Sen Rashidi Ladoja, we remain committed to the ADC and we affirm our unalloyed support for the governorship candidature of Sen Solagbade Olufemi Lanlehin (SOLAN) and all candidates under the banner of ADC.”

    The communique was signed by Chief Solomon Ayansina and Hon. Olusoji Oladejo Success, Chairman and Secretary of the group respectively. Also in attendance were Chief Laide Lanihun, Pa Laditi, Hon Nureni Adisa, Hon Tayo Oyetunji and Hon Babatunde Olaniyan (Akoro). Others included Hon Abiola Ladoja, Alh Wasiu Emiola, Engr Akeem Olatunji, Hon Segun Oyewole, Professor Fajembola and Hon Nurudeen Akanni.

     

  • Oyo ADC: Torn apart by primary

    The Oyo State African Democratic Congress (DC) is at war with itself over its controversial governorship primary. Correspondent OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports that the post-primary crisis is capable of destroying the platform.

    The Oyo State African Democratic Congress (ADC) adopted consensus which  produced Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin, its governorship flag bearer. But, it hit the rocks. The party is now battling with post-primary crisis.

    Few months ago, the ADC became the toast of the electorate, former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, who had bitterly complained of impunity in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led his teeming supporters to the new ‘bride’ with a feeling that culture of internal democracy would be entrenched in the new party.

    It was like a new bride when the breakaway faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under a group known as ‘Unity Forum’ and the Coalition for Nigeria’s Movement (CNM); the Labour Party and others joined forces under ADC for the purpose of sending the ruling government packing in 2019.

    But, a delicate and critical moment came when the centre could no longer hold. It was a time of test of integrity,  selflessness, dedication and loyalty to the party’s constitution and guidelines.

    Article 20(1) and (2) and paragraph A&B thereof, and paragraph 13 of the ADC Guidelines for party screening for primary stipulate three modes of primary elections; direct primary, indirect primary and consensus provided it is the wishes of the majority of party members. However, the abysmal failure of the party leadership  to adhere to the constitution and guidelines was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Expectations were high that the calculation would change with the advent of a credible alternative platform.

    There was exodus of party members from other parties to ADC.

    The arrival of ADC, changed the political firmament in the state because it promised to  provide  opportunity for the people to choose between the APC that has held sway for almost eight years and the  new party, which promised to solve the challenges confronting the state.

    The emergence of the 13 aspirants ; Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, Senator Gbenga Babalola, Engr. Festus Wale Adegoke; Engr. Remi Oseni; Dr. Yunus Akintunde; Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli  Engr. Remi Olaniyan; Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja; Chief Lowo Obisesan; Dr. Kola Balogun; Otunba Oluseye Opatoki; Mr. Ayodele Adigun; and Dr. Nureni Adeniran came as a ray of hope at a time when the people were yearning for a strong and viable opposition party  in the Pacesetter State, at least to rival the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The crisis peaked when four elders of the party; Ladoja, Dr. Buari Adebisi, Chief Michael Koleoso and Chief Olayiwola Olakojo met to hand pick Lanlehin as party’s candidate, contrary to the party’s guidelines for primary election.

    The development sent jitters down  the spines of disenchanted members of the party across the state.

    Out of the 13 governorship aspirants, 12 vehemently rejected the process which threw up Lanlehin as the candidate.

    The name of Dr. Ahmed Ayinla, the ADC Chairman, in order to beat the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline of October 7, was submitted as a a dummy candidate as claimed. The  aspirants who innocently believed the party , later said they were only tricked after it became clearer that there was more to it than meet the eyes.

    They cried blue murder and vowed to fight what they described as fraud and daylight robbery.

    Senator Gbenga Babalola, one of the  aspirants, while expressing their resolve to ensure that justice prevailed in the party, wondered how the elders; the National Chairman Ladoja, Chief Michael Koleoso, Dr.Busari Adebisi and Chief Olayiwola Olakojo ,  after coercing them to sign a communique to the effect that consensus method will be adopted among the aspirants to select a presentable, viable and winning candidate that will be acceptable to all and sundry, went back same day to select Lanlehin as candidate.

    According to him, it is regrettable  that the National Publicity Secretary, Mrs Yemi Kolapo, stated in a release that the choice of Olufemi Lanlehin as the candidate was arrived at after a keenly contested election.

    “This culture of impunity must end because the era of some elders sitting in their living room and dictating  in the name of godfatherism is gone. In our considered view , this unsavory action is not in the best  interest of our great . It is a day light light fraud and we are saying no to the charade . It is a travesty of all democratic principles that this party stands for and we are assuring our teeming supporters that the illegality being spearheaded by these people cannot stand the test of legitimacy as we have taken steps to end this impunity”, he said.

    Babalola said that there is no attribute of congress in the choice of Lanlehin as announced by the four elders, adding that the choice of Lanlehin is alien to the Oyo ADC and therefore, the aspirants have dissociated themselves and the party from the charade.

    Analysts said there is impending implosion and disintegration of the ADC, if the crisis is allowed to drag beyond November. Others claimed that the crisis in ADC was a time bomb because the party is peopled by very few leaders who had allowed dictatorial tendencies over the years to becloud their sense of judgment .

    Already, the aggrieved aspirants and the leadership of the party have remained adamant, and unwilling to shift ground on their position .

    The 12 aspirants may decide to seek redress in court, if nothing urgent is done  by the national leadership to correct the wrongs and assuage the ruptured feelings of party members.

    Observers said that a major challenge starring at the leadership of the ADC is how to collectively confront tendencies that could lead to disintegration of the party and mass defection currently threatening the existence of Oyo ADC.

    Raufu Aderemi Olaniyan , one of the aggrieved aspirants, said the process adopted to select Senator Lanlehin is marred with illegality and fraud. This, not withstanding, he added must not be allowed to destroy the party they all labored to nurture.

    Olaniyan, who recently abandoned the APC to join the ADC, described the crisis as normal misunderstanding among members of a family, adding that very soon the crisis would be amicably resolved as the party would not afford to crash at this moment.

    What is the way forward? Observers argued that to deepen internal democracy, there should be observance and application of parties’ constitution and its guidelines, which must be consistent with the spirit and letters of the Electoral Act 2010 (amended).

    In Oyo ADC, the road to fence mending and reconstruction that will lead the party to the Agodi Government House is laced with thorns. Observers contend that pockets of dissention among co-travellers should be well  managed within the party to prevent the gravitation of loyal party members to other parties. However, the survival of ADC in the pacesetter state is hinged on the speed of the drivers to pull the brakes and repair the damage before the sun set. 2019 poll is gradually drawing nearer than envisaged.

     

  • Oyo ADC aspirants sue party over Lanlehin’s ‘imposition’

    Twelve governorship aspirants of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State have sued the party and its leaders for alleged imposition of Senator Olufemi Lanlehin as its governorship candidate.

    The aspirants are praying the court to intervene in what they called the illegal selection and imposition of Senator Lanlehin as the party’s governorship candidate in next year’s election.

    Joined in the suit filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, are: the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), former governor of the state, who is the party’s State Leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, and other party chieftains.

    In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, the aspirants accused Ladoja of being the author of confusion in the party.

    “May we state emphatically that there is no candidate yet for the House of Assembly, the Senate and governorship positions from the ADC except those offered automatic tickets in Oyo State via the party’s guidelines,” the statement said.

    The plaintiffs are: Wale Adegoke, Dr Yunus Akintunde, Dr Nureni Adeniran, Mr Ayodele Adigun and Chief Sharafadeen Alli.

    Others are: Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, Senator Gbenga Babalola, Dr Kola Balogun, Chief Tirimisiyu Obisesan, Aderemi Olaniyan, Chief Oluseyi Opatoki and Aderemi Oseni.

    Also joined in the suit are: the party’s National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Chief Michael Koleoso, Senator Lanlehin and Chief Layiwola Olakojo, among others.