New twists and turns have trailed the reported adoption of former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and governorship aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming October 20 governorship election in the state as indications have emerged that almost all the aggrieved aspirants have commenced discussions with other parties.This development is coming six days after the emergence of the immediate past National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Chief Olusola Oke as the party's governorship candidate for the October 20 election even as two of the leading aspirants, Dr. Olu Agunloye and Dr Tunji Abayomi were said to have left the ACN.
Efforts to confirm from the duo were unsuceesful as at press time.
Specifically, the aspirants, who last week, rejected the reported adoption of the Owo-born lawyer on the ground that he ‘was alien to the politics of Ondo State and imposed on the party’, have opened talks with the ruling Labour Party(LP) in the state as well as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Akeredolu was said to have been adopted by the national caucus of the ACN at its meeting held at the Lagos residence of its national leader and former governor of Lagos State, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu and presided over by the national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande. Akeredolu had collected his nomination form in Abuja on friday.
But ACN National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed insisted the party was yet to pick its governorship candidate, saying, “all necessary and legal processes leading to the selection of its candidate will be followed.”
All the same, sources close to some of the aggrieved governorship aspirants told Sunday Tribune on condition of anonymity that series of meetings along the line of realignment of forces were held in the last five days since news broke that Akeredolu had been adopted by the national caucus of the ACN.
Both the LP and the PDP also confirmed that the aspirants who were protesting the reported adoption of the Ibadan-based legal practitioner had been meeting with them.
“From the look of things, all the aspirants have been meeting with both the LP and PDP since we got the shocking news that someone has been imposed on us in this state from outside. While some us see it as normal in politics, there is the tendency for this to break our resolve to effect a change in the state; that has been our objective all along.
“I can tell you that some have been meeting with even the incumbent governor whom we are trying to remove from office through our votes come October 20, 2012 while others have been holding meetings with the leadership of the PDP”, the source said.
Another source and member of the PDP Elders’ Council in the state also confided in our correspondent that the party had been on top of the situation.
“Since the sad Lagos adoption took place, we have been watching the situation and we are on top of it; in the next few days, the entire political atmosphere will change and new direction given to the state because we in PDP will give all it takes in terms of personal or collective sacrifice to ensure that we return to Alagbaka,” the PDP chieftain said on telephone.
A meeting of the South-West caucus of the party held in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Sunday last week, was said to have extensively discussed the adoption of Akeredolu and the likely effects on the polity in the state.
There are strong indications that the PDP, aside entering into some “political understandings” may equally concede the party’s deputy governorship slot to one of the aggrieved aspirants of the ACN.
Although the PDP in the state was evasive on this, its Director of Publicity, Ayo Fadaka confirmed that all the aspirants had been meeting the party’s leadership.
“Yes I can confirm to you that not just some, but all the aspirants have been meeting with the leadership of the party in the state. We are bonded by a common destiny and desire to better the lot of the people of the state; the vehicles for such change are different. Remember that this is not the time for ego trips, all we desire in this state is a change; and nowhere in the history of mankind have changes ever occurred without sacrifices being made,” he said.
On its part, the LP said it would not shut out anyone. The state chairman of the party, Chief Ade Ogidan spoke on telephone.
“You know the slogan of our party is ‘room enough for all’; whoever desires to join the party is free to do so irrespective of his or her own antecedents. I say this without prejudice to those who were in the LP but jumped out.
“We do not discriminate against anybody, neither are we selective in welcoming new members into the party. For us in the LP, you prove your worth by contributing your quota to the development of the state, and the time spent as a member matters less. For now, what I can tell you is that our doors are open and they are welcome to the LP,” Ogidan said.
Nonetheless, Mohammed said that the noise about the purported adoption of Akeredolu was premature, insisting that the ACN was yet to commence a process leading to the selection of its governorship candidate.
“In every political party, there are rules and regulations; in our party, the laid down procedures are very clear and unambiguous to all and sundry as far as the selection of candidates for elections are concerned. That of Ondo State cannot, and will never be an exception.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all members of the party, including aspirants, should endeavour to await the release of party guidelines for the conduct of primary for the governorship. For purposes of clarity, a notice would be issued, date for collection and submission of forms will be advertised even as venue for such exercise will be made public.
“Above all, INEC has to be in attendance to witness, observe and certify that indeed, a governorship primary held; it is only then that we can say a process has been put in place for the selection of a candidate. But anything said or suggested outside this process is nothing but speculative and prejudicial to that process.
“So, we are only appealing to all our members to remain calm and allow the party to commence the process that will elect their governorship candidate; for now, there is no candidate because we are to follow due process”, the party’s spokesman said.
But a leader of the ACN, who indeed, founded the Sunshine Liberation Forum(SLF), Hon. Thompson Otito Atikase told Sunday Tribune that his group, which had worked for an ally of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Mr. Saka Lawal, was still studying the political situation in the party.
"We are watching as events unfold; at the right time, we will make a statement. The issue at hand presently is not an individual one, it requires a wide range of consultations. You will hear from us soon," Atikase said.Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan City Network (Forum) | Small Business Guide
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