A Justice Mandate Group (JMG) acting under ‘Third Eye’ for distraught members of the crisis-ridden African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo state on Thursday raised eight posers on why the confirmation of the acclaimed gubernatorial candidate of the party, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin may end up creating more confusions than solution for the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The state coordinator of the group, Comrade Joseph Afolabi, Esq in a 2-page statement dated November 1st, 2018 and addressed to the leadership of the party at the National and state levels, demanded to know why Lanlehin’s choice by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party would not resort in a subject of litigation ahead of the general election.
According to him, ‘any building erected on a faulty foundation can never stand, because the purported affirmation of Senator Lanlehin has raised questions on the integrity of the leadership of the party and the sincerity to walk the talk especially now that we are just few months to the elections.’
The ‘Third Eye’ said its findings have revealed that about 40% of the ‘so-called 13 gubernatorial aspirants’ did not pay to obtain the nomination form. That the case of Dr. Nureni Adeniran who emerged as the consensus candidate on Tuesday evening at an exercise where all the aspirants including Lanlehin participated, has brought to the limelight the motive of the party’s leadership to destabilize ADC for reasons best known to them.’
Afolabi raised the following posers to back his claim:- “why did the party under the leadership of National Vice Chairman, Southwest, Mr. Dele Ajadi sell nomination form to aspirants who did not pay the prescribed fees as revealed in the address by Chief Ralph Nwosu on Wednesday in Abuja?
“Why did Mr. Dele Ajadi include the names of the aspirants who did not pay for nomination fees in the handing over notes, as aspirants that obtained nomination form for the office of the governor?
“Why did the National Legal Adviser and the National Vice Chairman who were Chairman and Secretary of the screening committee allow aspirants who did not pay prescribed fees to participate in the screening exercise?
“Why did the committee wait till this long to determine the eligibility and financial stand of aspirants?
“Why did the NWC invite aspirants who are not qualified to meetings held with them on two occasions?
“Why did the National Chairman of the party in the presence of all the 13 aspirants nullify the nomination via imposition of Senator Olufemi Lanlehin and directed that the aspirants pick a consensus candidate among themselves?
“Why did the National Chairman nominate the Deputy State Chairman to supervise the process of nomination of consensus among the governorship aspirants on Tuesday?”
The ‘Third Eye’ which demanded answers to the above posers also alleged in the petition that “all the aspirants agreed and signed to abide by the outcome of voting process for nomination of consensus candidate including Senator Olufemi Lanlehin of which is binding on all concerned,” wondered the latest volte face by the NWC of the party.
Oyo Echo33 recalls that the NWC of the party on Tuesday reaffirmed Senator Lanlehin as the governorship candidate of the party in Oyo State.
A release by Mrs. Yemi Kolapo, the National Publicity Secretary of the party quoted the National Chairman, Chief Ralphs Nwosu saying, “In line with our earlier press statement on the issue of ADC’s gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, the National Working Committee wishes to announce that Senator Olufemi Lanlehin remains the gubernatorial candidate of ADC in Oyo State. We have had to revisit the issue to ensure that we accommodate all concerns from various quarters. We have had meetings with all the stakeholders of our dear party, including aspirants at all levels of elective positions.
“This was meant to ensure that the choice of Senator Lanlehin satisfied the aspirations of all party leaders, members and stakeholders of our great party, including a broad spectrum of the good people of Oyo State. Following the deliberations and consultations, the party’s decision on Senator Lanlehin has been ascertained to be the best for ADC and especially the good people of Oyo State. All the polls taken so far have pointed to the fact that Lanlehin is the Oyo State Governor in waiting.”
He added, “However, in view of the controversy generated by 12 governorship aspirants of the party in Oyo State, and their request to make an input in choosing a consensus candidate, we gave them the chance to make a recommendation and they recommended Dr. Nureni Adeniran, who the Screening and Primary Committee had screened out because of his failure to meet financial obligations (Expression of Interest and nomination form), lack of constituency support and inability to prove adequate financial capacity to fund the governorship campaign/election. This calls into question the motive behind the agitation of the 12 aspirants.”
While assuring ADC members and stakeholders that the party is well positioned to take over the Government House in Oyo State come 2019, the National Chairman warned, “We will not condone acts intended to destabilize the impressive progress already made by ADC in Oyo State. Every member of the party has been assured that their yearning for a candidate of the people has been satisfied in the choice of Olufemi Lanlehin. We urge everyone, particularly the media, to disregard further press statements, not issued by the National Working Committee on the issue of a governorship candidate for ADC in Oyo State.”
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