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Tag: Oyo state

  • Oyo speaker commends INEC

    Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olagunju Ojo on Saturday commended the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) for the early arrival of electoral materials and officials for the Governorship and House of Assembly election.

    Ojo who spoke with newsmen after casting his vote at his polling booth, Ward 8 inside Ahoro Dada Primary School, Ahoro Dada, Oriire South LCDA, Ogbomosho noted that the early arrival is an improvement on the presidential and national assembly elections which held a fortnight ago.

    He however lamented the apathy showed by voters in not showing up early yoncast their vote, adding that the late arrival of electoral materials and officials in the last election could have been responsible.

    Read Also: Man caught with human skull in Oyo

    He said, “I commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for the peaceful conduct of today’s Governorship and House of Assembly Elections

    “The exercise has been hitch-free at least in my polling booth and going by reports I heard. I think its an improvement on the last election.

    “However, I am not too satisfied on the low turnout of the voters. The experience of the presidential and national assembly election could have been responsible anyway. We can only enjoin our people to go out and cast their votes.”

  • Accord party adopts APC’s Adelabu in Oyo

    The Accord Party in Oyo State has adopted the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adebayo Adelabu, as its candidate.

    A statement on Friday in Ibadan by the state Chairman and National Secretary of the party, Chief Muda Ogunsola and Dr Adebukola Ajaja respectively, said the decision to adopt the APC governorship candidate was taken by the state executive and party chairmen in the 33 local government areas of the state.

    The statement reads in part  ”The adoption, which was endorsed by the national headquarters of our great party, was as a result of realisation that Accord might not be able to achieve its quest to give Oyo State good governance.

    ”Hence the need to have a workable alliance with Adebayo Adelabu, the APC candidate in the Saturday election.

    Read Also: ‘Accord still in Rivers governorship race’

    ”The leadership of Accord after evaluating the two major contenders – Seyi Makinde (PDP) and Adebayo Adelabu (APC)–decided to pick APC candidate as the most intelligent and credible candidate capable of taking Oyo State to height of development in the next four years.”

    It said that Accord party, however, remained a registered political party in Oyo State which needed to form an alliance with a formidable political party.

    ”We thereby direct our members and supporters across the state to cast their votes for Adelabu during Saturday’s gubernatorial election.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that efforts to get the reaction of Mr Saheed Ajadi, the Accord Party governorship candidate in Oyo State, to the development proved abortive as calls put to his cell phone did not go through.

    NAN

  • APC: we didn’t bribe Akala to support us

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Southwest has declared that it did not bribe former governor of Oyo State Adebayo Alao-Akala to support its governorship candidate, Adebayo Adelabu in the Saturday election.

    The party in a statement by its Zonal Secretary, Mr Ayo Afolabi, said such belief is being allegedly spread by agents of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which it described as corrupt.

    The party said persuading Alao-Akala to support Adelabu was not a Herculean task being its former member.

    The statement read: “It has come to the notice of our Party, the All Progressives Congress the unfounded rumor going round in the social media and in some blogs that the APC induced Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala with a huge amount of money for his support to sway him and his numerous supporters across Oyo State to the side of APC in the gubernatorial and states house of assembly elections scheduled for March 9, 2019.

    “This type of allegation can only exist in the minds and imagination of heavily corrupt PDP and their supporters. It is out of place for APC to give financial inducement to anyone with a view to gain or get the support of any one talkless of a person of Akala’s calibre who was until some six month ago a strong member of our party. It is true that the party approached former Gov. Akala and appealed to him to lend a helping hand for the success of APC in Oyo State as did PDP in the coming elections, this is normal in democracy.

    “Akala made some demands which include among others: the completion of the teaching hospital in Ogbomoso which he wanted to be put to immediate use as soon as possible, the issue of LAUTECH which he wanted the governments of APC to address immediately and other sundry issues which are the basic ingredients for good governance. For anybody or group of people to accuse our party of offering money to former Governor Akala is share blackmail which can only exist in the imagination of the writer.

    “We therefore enjoin the public to ignore such ranting of lazy minds whose only intention is to play politics with the integrity of our party and confuse the public.”

  • Accord adopts APC in Oyo

    The Accord Party in Oyo State on Tuesday agreed to work for the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s governorship and assembly polls.

    This alliance, according to the hierarchy of the party, was facilitated by Senator Soji Akanbi representing Oyo South senatorial district.

    He reunited with the APC from the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) after a high powered meeting with the Vice President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC stalwarts after the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Read Also: Photos: Buhari, Atiku sign peace accord in Abuja

    Over 350 members, party leaders and representatives of the Accord Party from all 33 local government areas of Oyo State converged on the Mauve 23 Event Centre in Ring Road, Ibadan to finalise terms of support for the ruling party.

    Akanbi told the Accord members that his return to help the APC’s recovery process was hinged on recent reconciliation efforts of the APC national leaders.

    He lauded the virtues of President Muhammadu Buhari and emphasized the need to ensure Oyo state aligns with the ruling party to further bring development to the state.

    “We are here to cement a relationship that will bring massive development to the state because the ruling party leadership has a mandate to win in Oyo State.

    “We recognize that we only can win together and that is why we are calling on fellow progressive minded people to join the winning side.

    “I enjoin you all to align with the APC to win the gubernatorial elections in the state and ensure progressive change in the interest of the masses,” he stated.

    The chairman of the Accord in Oyo State, Engr. Muda Ogunsola, lauded the senator for placing the masses’ interest first.

    He explained his party’s decision to support the APC in Saturday’s governorship election has been well accepted by all stakeholders in the party.

    He informed the national hierarchy of the party had granted the go ahead for the state chapter to assist the APC to realize its mandate in the governorship elections.

    This marks a major sign of recovery for the party that suffered a shock defeat in the hands of the main opposition party, PDP in the Presidential election held on Feb 23.

    The APC in the state also surrendered the Oyo South senatorial seat and all four federal constituencies in the district to the PDP.

    APC’s poor showing in Ibadan metropolis, which affected their overall performance, is largely blamed on the internal crisis that forced Senator Akanbi to seek re-election on the platform of the ADC after Governor Abiola Ajimobi claimed the party’s ticket from the incumbent.

     

  • My intervention in Oyo APC was for genuine reconciliation, by Tinubu

    •Ajimobi and I are partners, says APC leader

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said himself and Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State are partners, not rivals and that his intervention in Oyo APC is to engender genuine reconciliation and not to hide or supplant the governor.

    The APC leader was reacting to a false report by SaharaReporters that Asiwaju Tinubu was moving to ban Governor Ajimobi from leading APC campaigns in Oyo because of his intervention in the state, holding discussions with some notable leaders and bringing former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala back to the party’s fold.

    Tinubu described Governor Ajimobi as an excellent governor and a faithful member of the APC. “He has brought progress to the state and in serving two consecutive terms, Ajimobi made history in Oyo. He is instrumental to anything the APC can achieve in Oyo”.

    A statement yesterday by Tinubu’s Media Adviser, Tunde Rahman, said Asiwaju Tinubu was only lending his support to the governor’s and APC’s efforts in the state. “They are partners not rivals”.

    He described the report by the online medium as another excursion into falsehood. But he added: “This report goes beyond a lie. It is a vindictive attempt to sow discord because the writer is angered by the APC’s success in the presidential election. Thus, the writer has cast truth aside in his angry desire to inflict some kind of electoral wound on the APC.”

    The statement reads: “SaharaReporters seems unable to mend its ways. Instead of trying to publish what is fair and accurate, it rather grows its tales from seedlings of untruth and calumny. This online newspaper no longer bothers to offer the pretense of seeking the truth. For SaharaReporters, whatever is sensational must be true and whatever is true must be sensational. The real truth is that SaharaReporters no longer cares if its reportage is right. SaharaReporters just cares that it is widely read. It dare not allow veracity to hamper its business model. This is a disservice to ethical journalism which honors truthful, accurate reporting.

    “The report titled: “Tinubu Bans Ajimobi from Appearing at APC Governorship Rallies” is another of SaharaReporters’ excursions into falsehood. The report claims that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu somehow has banned Governor Abiola Ajimobi from attending APC campaigns for Saturday’s governorship election in Oyo State.

    “This report goes beyond a lie. It is a vindictive attempt to sow discord because the writer is angered by the APC’s success in the presidential election. Thus, the writer has cast truth aside in his angry desire to inflict some kind of electoral wound on the APC. However, the writer should refrain from this path of falsehood. It would be better for the writer to come to grips with reality and to accept the fact of the APC presidential victory and the likelihood of APC victories in most governorship elections, including that of Oyo.

    “The mischief that SaharaReporters cites is not between Tinubu and Ajimobi. It is solely in the mind of SaharaReporters. By its unsubstantiated report, the medium seeks to set brother against brother. Asiwaju and Governor Ajimobi have been political brothers and allies for a long time. Their friendship existed long before SaharaReporters came to the scene and will endure long after this self-diminishing online site is no more.

    “Moreover, Governor Ajimobi has been an excellent governor and a faithful member of the APC. He has brought progress to the state and in serving two consecutive terms, Ajimobi made history in Oyo. He is instrumental to anything the APC can achieve in Oyo. The truth is that Asiwaju is not trying to supplant or hide the governor. Instead, Asiwaju is lending his support to the governor’s and APC’s efforts in the state. They are partners not rivals.

    Read also: APC will complete the takeover of Delta on Saturday, says Buhari

    “As such, he has held strategic meetings with some notable groups and important individuals. The heart of the discussions was the need for all to come together to achieve victory for APC in the March 9 governorship poll. At no time did the issue of banning anybody, talk less of Governor Ajimobi, enter into the discussions. We want and need Governor Ajimobi to be a visible figure at the forefront of this campaign during these final decisive days. He will prove pivotal to our hope for victory in the state.

    “SaharaReporters betrayed its abject bias with this report. It makes absolutely no sense to even try to stop a sitting governor from campaigning in that governor’s state. Such a move would only create enmity and hinder, not help a campaign. For SaharaReporters to claim this is to claim that Asiwaju is a political novice. Asiwaju has never barred anyone from participating in a campaign. Why would he now start with Ajimobi in Ajimobi’s own state?

    “In addition to not having such a negative inclination, Asiwaju wields no such power and has no desire to have such power. Ajimobi is a sitting governor who can travel within his state as he pleases. Who can dare stop him? We want him in and at the rallies. Asiwaju’s intervention in Oyo was to engender genuine reconciliation. To exclude this good and able governor would have aborted this mission before it started.

    “Asiwaju views Governor Ajimobi as highly disciplined and a committed and respected party leader, unlike some others who have no respect for party supremacy. The relationship between them remains solid and loyal. And one hundred false reports by one hundred SaharaReporters cannot change that reality”.

  • Defections, court battles as parties intensify campaigns

    •Support base for Abiodun swells in Ogun      •Kano PDP exco defects to APC

    •Oyo APC accuses PDP of peddling rumours      •Judge refuses to stop Bindow

    •‘Kwara governor intimidating workers’      •Ortom: no plan to compromise INEC

    PARTIES and their candidates are intensifying their preparations for the rescheduled Governorship and State Assembly elections on Saturday.

    President Muhammadu Buhari was in Delta and Akwa Ibom states to lead the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign for the governorship elections. It was in a bid to take the Southsouth states into the ruling party’s basket.

    In many of the states, stronger candidates are making overtures to weaker candidates to gain more strength ahead of the elections and to form a formidable opposition to dislodge incumbent governors.

    Major challengers are accusing governors of deploying government structures to emasculate the opposition.

    There have also been judicial interventions in some states. Here is a state-by-state situation ahead of the elections:

    Kano

    In Kano, a Federal High Court nullified the primaries that produced Abba K. Yusuf as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate.

    Justice Lawis Alagoa ruled that Yususf’s candidature was not recognised by law because no primary election was held to produce him.

    The Judge, however, ruled that the PDP should conduct a fresh primary to produce a candidate who can be recognised by law before Saturday’s election.

    A PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Ibrahim El-Amin Little,  challenged the process that produced Yusuf.

    His grouse was that the party denied him the right to contest the primary election, even as he bought his expression and nomination forms.

    The development has unsettled the opposition party with members of its Executive Council defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Led by Senator Masa’ud El-Jubrin Doguwa, the executive and thousands of the party’s supporters announced their defection yesterday.

    Explaining why he collapsed the state leadership of the PDP into the APC, Doguwa said it was “due to the injustice being meted out to us by the Prince Uche Secondus National leadership”.

    He said: “I called this press conference just to brief you of a very painful decision that we have taken. This is so painful, but we have no choice but to take this decision of leaving the PDP. Today, we have decided to move to the APC.”

    Read also: My intervention in Oyo APC was for genuine reconciliation, by Tinubu

    Niger

    In Niger State, a Federal High Court in Minna yesterday dismissed a case of alleged certificate forgery filed against Governor Abubakar Bello.

    The PDP had gone to the court, seeking Bello’s disqualification from the election in.

    It accused Bello, who is the APC candidate, of presenting a forged certificate of statutory declaration of age to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Justice Aminu Aliyu, held that the suit was filed out of time, thereby negating Section 285 (9) of Nigeria’s constitution.

    Justice Aliyu held that the plaintiff’s case lacked merit and could not establish that Bello presented a forged certificate to INEC.

    He dismissed the matter and awarded N500, 000 cost to Bello and APC.

    Counsel to the plaintiff, Aliyu Lemu, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment, saying that his client would appeal.

    Mr Jibril Okutepa (SAN), Yunus Usman (SAN) and Johnson Usman, counsel to Bello and APC, described the judgment as a further proof that the judiciary was the last hope of the common man.

    Adamawa

    A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, yesterday dismissed a suit alleging that Adamawa State Governor Mohammed Bindow of submitting forged certificates to the INEC for lack of territorial jurisdiction.

    Justice Olukayode Adeniyi held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case on the ground that the suit originated from Adamawa State and ought to have been filed in the state and not in Abuja.

    A non-governmental organisation, under the aegis of Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, tendered documents before the court to substantiate its claim that the defendant who is a flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), falsely declared his educational qualification and date of birth.

    Among other prayers, the claimant was seeking the disqualification of Bindow from participating in the election.

    Bindow denied presenting forged documents to INEC.

    The governor, through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told the court that he won the primary election on October 9, last year in Yola.

    Meanwhil, the governorship candidates of 10 political parties in the state have resolved to work for the PDP to ensure victory for the opposition party.

    The candidates announced the decision after a meeting with the Adamawa PDP candidate, Alhaji Umaru Fintiri, in Yola.

    The candidates are: Sadiq Khaliel of MRDD, Danjuma Musa of FJP, Naziru Sa’ad of ZLP, Ahmed Hassan of DA and Salihu Danjuma of APM.

    Others are: Abdullahi Usman of NCP, Bappari Umar of KOWA, Lami Musa of PPN, Elizabeth Isa of CAP and Frank Simon of MEGA party.

    The candidates, who took turns to speak at the meeting, said they had decided to partner with the PDP and work for the success of the party and its candidate in the election.

    Ogun

    In Ogun State, the support base of the APC candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, swelled with some opposition figures promising to support him.

    A top chieftain of the APC in the Gateway State confirmed to The Nation that talks were ongoing between the party and key opposition figures.

    The APC leader, who pleaded to remain anonymous, said: “Our party has opened talks with the PDP, ADC and other opposition parties on how to collaborate so that Dapo Abiodun can really be the symbol.

    “Some APM members are returning home to work for the party. This is why I called it the realignment of forces in Ogun State.”

    A member of the state House of Assembly, Akinpelu Aina, said the APC would win Saturday’s governorship poll, despite the stand of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    Governor Amosun is backing the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, who lost the governorship ticket to Abiodun at the primaries.

    The lawmaker noted that the APC candidate was credible and remained the best for the position.

    Benue

    Governor Samuel Ortom’s  Special Adviser on Media & ICT, Mr Tahav Agerzua, said there was no need for the governor to compromise INEC personnel.

    Agerzua, who spoke in Makurdi, was reacting to the allegation by the APC in the state that Ortom had allocated large amounts of money to INEC staff, with the intent to compromise them.

    He said: “These unfounded allegations being circulated in the media are surely the last kicks of a dying horse. The results of the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly polls indicate that the party (PDP) is the preferred choice of the Benue people.

    “Ortom, who has grass roots support, need not compromise INEC staff to get votes through the backdoor. The people are poised to, once again, vote for him massively like they did in 2015, without any undue influence on the electoral umpire.”

    Sokoto

    The state chapter of the APC in Sokoto raised the alarm over alleged desperate and undemocratic moves by the PDP to cause a breach of the peace. It urged law enforcement agencies to apply appropriate sanctions to serve as deterrent to others.

    It alleged that the PDP had planned to deploy ‘area boys’ in Sokoto Marshall uniforms to join the joint security patrol team that will monitor the election to accomplish its designed plan.

    “We do not trust the state government owned security outfit. We reject that unlawful arrangement and demand that only security agencies backed and duly recognised by federal laws should monitor elections”, the APC said.

    It described as detrimental the calculated inciting statement by the state PDP chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma and the state Zonal Vice Chairman, Alhaji Muhammadu Dangwaggo, at a youth solidarity rally on March 2.

    At a news conference, the Sokoto APC Chairman, Alhaji Sadiq Isah Achida, observed that the PDP was rattled by the overwhelming victory of the APC across the country, describing the actions and unguarded statements by the opposition party’s chieftains as capable of causing a breach of the peace.

    Achida quoted the duo as saying: “We must win election by all means. We either win or there will be death. Any government official seen at the polling unit should be beaten up to death and his corpse thrown away in a refuse dump.

    “The statements are not only inciting but a recipe for lawlessness and anarchy,” Achida said.

    Oyo

    The Oyo State chapter of the APC warned PDP leaders to steer clear of the state because its funds cannot be used to fund the party (PDP).

    APC Publicity Secretary AbdulAzeez Olatunde said the failure of the PDP to win the presidential election had caused its members to go delusional, noting that the allegation that Governor Abiola Ajimobi plans to use fake police and NURTW members to cause unrest is “a figment of their puerile imagination and a product of hallucination”.

    Dr. Olatunde said: “Everyone in this state knows that Ajimobi stands for peace and he will not trade it for anything. Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry the violent years of PDP and the ruins caused by the party, which is gradually being salvaged by the APC administration of President Buhari.”

    The APC spokesman warned that it would resist what it called the rigging and vote buying plans of the PDP, adding that it will not allow the PDP to turn Oyo State into a micro finance bank.

    He said: “We wouldn’t have responded to PDP hallucinatory statements since the people know the party is synonymous with violence, maladministration, financial recklessness and mudslinging. With their rejection by Nigerians in the February 23 election, we assumed that they would have changed their ways.

    “But like the saying goes, old habits die hard. The habit of PDP to peddle falsehood is their second nature. Their antics to get to Oyo’s seat of power will be another futile effort. The electorate knows them; they know how they ruined the country’s economy and perpetrated a lot of violence in Oyo State and across the country.

    “The peace currently being enjoyed in Oyo State was elusive during the ruling years of PDP. It is only PDP that will lay the foundation of peace and destroy same with its hands.

    “The present administration in the state is people-oriented and it has vowed to sustain peace, safety and security.”

  • My adoption by Oyo coalition parties will give him victory – Makinde

    Governorship candidate of PDP in Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, says his adoption by a coalition of political parties in the state as their candidate will give him victory during the March 9 election.

    Dotun Oyelade, Director of Media and Strategy for Makinde Campaign Organization, said in statement in Ibadan on Monday that the maturity displayed by the leaders of the coalition parties was commendable.

    Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin, governorship candidate of ADC, Sharafadeen Alli of ZLP and Bolaji Ayorinde of SDP, had through the signed coalition on Sunday, adopted PDP’s Makinde as their consensus candidate for the March 9 governorship election in Oyo State.

    Read also: PDP’s allegation, product of hallucination — Oyo APC

    Among the leaders who made the coalition and adoption a reality were former Gov. Rashidi Ladoja, Sen. Femi Lanlehin, Chief Sharafadeen Ali and Chief Bolaji Ayorinde.

    “The milestone achievement has now paved the way for the PDP to coast home to victory with the support of other patriotic leaders,” Making said.

    The statement urged the APC to look for another business centre, adding Oyo state was out of bounds and out of their stranglehold.(NAN)

  • PDP’s allegation, product of hallucination — Oyo APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State says People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s allegation that Gov. Abiola Ajimobi intends to cause mayhem during Saturday’s election is a figment of the opposition’s puerile imagination.

    The APC Publicity Secretary in Oyo State, Dr Azeez Olatunde, said this in a statement in Ibadan on Monday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PDP in the state had alleged that the APC and Ajimobi were planning to cause unrest during the election using transport union members.

    “Our attention has been drawn to an allegation by the PDP that the governor is planning to use fake police and NURTW members to cause unrest in the state.

    “We like to state categorically that this allegation is a figment of their puerile imagination and a product of hallucination,” the party said.

    The APC said that everyone in the state knows that Ajimobi stood for peace and would not trade it for anything.

    It said that Nigerians could not forget in a hurry the violent years of PDP and the ruins it caused which was gradually being salvaged by the APC administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The APC warned that it would resist election rigging and vote buying plans of the PDP in the gubernatorial election, stating that it won’t allow PDP to turn Oyo State into a macro finance bank.

    “We wouldn’t have responded to PDP hallucinatory statements since the people know the party is synonymous with violence, maladministration, financial recklessness and mudslinging.

    “With their rejection by Nigerians in the Feb. 23 election, we assumed that they would have changed their ways.

    “But like the saying goes, old habits die hard. The habit of PDP to peddle falsehood is their second nature. Their antics to get to Oyo seat of power will be another futile effort.

    “The electorates know them, they know how they ruined the country’s economy and perpetrated a lot of violence in Oyo State and across the country,” it said.

    It said that the peace currently enjoyed in the state was elusive during the ruling years of PDP, saying it is only a party like PDP that would lay the foundation of peace and destroy same with its hands.

    The APC said that the present administration in the state was people oriented and has vowed to sustain peace, safety and security that would bring evident development, growth and progress to the state.

    It warned the leaders of PDP to steer clear of the state, saying the state’s fund could not be used to fund the PDP. (NAN)

  • Adelabu vows to sustain school feeding, pay teachers’ higher wages

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, has promised to sustain the school feeding project, if elected by on Saturday.

    He gave the assurance during his ongoing final campaign across the state.

    Adelabu, who also hailed return of many breakaway members of the party across the state, assured teachers of higher wages if he succeeds in the election.

    He described education as the bedrock of human and nation’s development, stressing that teachers are a major pillar of quality education delivery.

    The APC candidate said without teachers, he would not be who he is today, adding all great men and women owe the development of their minds to their teachers.

    He said he holds teachers in high esteem so much he believes that they are a class of workers whose welfare should be a priority in the society.

    Read Also: I will work for Adelabu, says Akala

    On school feeding, Adelabu explained it is an APC project which has been helping a good number of public school pupils.

    He pointed out that school feeding helps children concentrate on their learning while also lessening the financial burden of many parents.

    Urging the electorate to cast their votes for him and APC House of Assembly candidates on Saturday, Adelabu said his party has the solution to the myriads of challenges facing the Nigerian society.

    He explained that Oyo State has a lot to benefit from continuity under the same party, adding his administration would build on the foundation of security and infrastructural development built by the outgoing administration.

    The APC candidate also welcomed back former members, commending them for returning to the house they jointly built.

    He promised not to discriminate against any member, saying the good ideas of everyone would help in the development of the state.

    Adelabu will contend with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Seyi Makinde on Saturday as the two most prominent candidates in the election.

  • Akala agrees to work for party ahead of polls

    A former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, is working for the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of next week’s governorship election, and wants his supporters across the state to join him in his latest move.

    Akala was, until yesterday, the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the state.

    He, however, confirmed last night, that, he has agreed to work for the emergence of APC’s Adebayo Adelabu as the next governor of the state.

    Speaking to reporters at his Ibadan residence, Akala said: “I remain in ADP and all our candidates for the House of Assembly seats will stand in the March 9 elections, on the platform of the ADP, with my full support but I will work for the victory of Bayo Adelabu.”

    He explained that his alliance with APC was based on the party’s belief that the ADP could perform optimally, and maintain a strong grassroots network not only in Ogbomoso but also in Ibadan, Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun and Oyo.

    He said: ”Our core values and philosophies as indicated in our ADP manifesto, ‘Rescue Mission Agenda’ has been adopted by Bayo Adelabu with the Presidency as witness. I have, therefore, as a candidate of ADP, accepted to support Adelabu of APC for victory and therefore form a coalition government.

    “My solemn gratitude goes to our members, state and national leaders of the ADP, for the ample opportunity given to me to lead and fly the flag of the party. Though my decision is a very tough one, it is for the progress of Oyo State.”

    Alao-Akala said his decision following the outcome of the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections was based on the outcome of some incidents.

    “It is widely known, that, I initiated alliance talks with the main opposition parties in Oyo State vis-a-vis my great party, the Action Democratic Party (ADP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) with my boss, the former governor of Oyo State and Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashid Adewolu Ladoja as mediator.

    “Meanwhile, during the alliance process, I received an emergency call from the Presidency. In the meeting with Presidency, I was prevailed upon to work for APC. My response was that I should be given 48 hours to consult with my people, the opposition parties’ alliance committee as well as the teeming members, leaders and the stakeholders of my great party, ADP.

    “On resumption of the alliance meeting, my boss, (High Chief Rashid Adewolu Ladoja), told me point blank in the presence of other governorship candidates, that I was not in consideration for governorship due to my place of birth – Ogbomoso. According to him, ‘We need an Ibadan man to slug it out with another Ibadan man, which is Bayo Adelabu.’ With the statement, my geographical place of birth is the only crime I committed.

    “Since I’ve been unfairly and technically booted out of the alliance talks, I consulted with my party stakeholders and supporters whose support have brought me this far. Having realised that my 2019 governorship agenda cannot be realised in isolation based on the present situation, the only option remaining for me is to form an alliance with Mr. Bayo Adelabu of APC.

    “I, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, the Oyo State 2019 Action Democratic Party (ADP), have decided to form an alliance with the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adebayo Adekola Adelabu, ahead of the March 9 Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections in the state. However, all the ADP candidates for the House of Assembly seats will go to the elections with my maximum support.”

    Earlier, yesterday, Akala’s spokesman, Wale Ohu, issued a statement saying: ”After a careful consideration of the results of the last Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections and in furtherance of the development, progress and peace of Oyo State, far-reaching decisions have to be taken and actualised.

    “The ADP, after holding series of high level consultations across Oyo State after the last general elections, has come to the conclusion that the sanctity, integrity and progress of Oyo State cannot and must not be compromised.

    “We have felt the pulse of the people whose support has brought us this far: it is important that we dance when they play the tunes.

    “We have given deep thought to the future of this state and have realised, that, not much can be realised in isolation, hence the need to team up with the party that puts the interest of the masses on top of its priority list.

    “Looking at the results of the last elections, we have realised the need to restrategise and ensure that Oyo State is not left out in the cold.

    “To this effect, the Oyo State ADP and the Akala Campaign Organisation, hereby, call on all our members, teeming supporters and well-wishers across the state to come on board in this move towards positioning our state for better national interest.”

    Akala defected to the APC last year, only to join ADP, a few months back.

    However, the anti-APC coalition is set to resume talks today as yesterday’s meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Social Democratic Party(SDP) lasted barely 90 minutes, after which representatives of the parties agreed to resume their discussions today on what they termed ‘government of unity.’