Politics
2023: Your utterances can scuttle our chances in Ogo-Oluwa LG- Group berates Adedeji
A Group under the aegis of Ogo Oluwa Youth Alliance (OYA) has berated the Labour Party (LP) Candidate for Ogo Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections, Mr Adedeji Adesoji Michael to stop heating the polity, expressing fear over what it described, as his desperate inordinate ambition to win the 2023 Federal House of Representatives election by all means, either by hook or by crook.
The group stated this while reacting to some statements made by Adedeji while featuring on a radio programme, “Agbo Oselu” on Parrot FM, Ogbomoso on Tuesday, where he made some weighty statements that could affect the chance of Ogo Oluwa Local government in producing the next representative of the Ogo Oluwa/Surulere joint federal constituency at the National Assembly in the 2023 general elections.
According to the statement signed on behalf of the group by its Coordinator, Oyewole Abraham and Secretary, Aremu Segun and made available to newsmen, “as concerned indigenous members of Ogo Oluwa Local government that are doing everything possible in promoting peace and stimulating political stability in this local government and by extension, Surulere local government, we have seen lots of common sense in calling Mr Adedeji Adesoji Michael to order at this point especially as it relates to his utterances at a radio interview programme he recently granted at Parrot FM, Ogbomoso.
“We noticed with dismay his media attacks on the personality of the candidate of another party in the person of Hon. Elder Abioye Mathew Adegboyega wherein he referred to him as a total stranger in Ogo-Oluwa and also linked him to the allegation of double nominations by two different political parties in Ogo Oluwa/Surulere federal constituency against him contrary to the INEC’s Electoral Act which forbids an individual to stand as a candidate for more than one political party. We found his vituperation not only uncivil and undemocratic but also very childish, unpatriotic and cliquish.
“It will be recalled that Hon. Abioye he was referring to as a stranger, had represented the Ogo Oluwa/Surulere State constituency for two consecutive terms at the Oyo State House of Assembly and is also one of our well-respected leaders and politicians that have paid their dues in Ogo Oluwa local government. Therefore, his attempt to embark on a smear campaign against Hon. Abioye’s status is nothing else but a deliberate act of moral aberration.
“What we were expecting from him was to clear the air on the allegation of double nominations which has become a subject of concern to all of us in Ogo Oluwa and other indigenes that are anxiously looking for the emergence of a candidate from this local as our next federal House of Representatives member but instead, he was attacking some personalities which we see as a ploy to divert the attention of the public from the real issue of double nominations levelled against him
What our constituency needs are a mature and experienced politician that must be produced by the Ogo – Oluwa local government area having been greatly marginalized since the advent of this present dispensation in 1999. The people of Ogo-Oluwa are not ignorant of the fact that 2023 is another opportunity which must be maximized since we are not second-class citizens in Ogo Oluwa/Surulere federal constituency area.
“We are a youth group with great advocacy for youth participation in politics but certainly not in an uncivil way and reckless manner he conducted himself during the interview programme.
“Our interest lies more in the fact of unravelling the truth behind every allegation and it is on this note that we challenge Adedeji Michael to involve the police to carry out a discreet investigation and institute legal action against the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ascertain the truth behind his name appearing on the INEC’s list for two different political parties. This is necessary if he thinks the allegation against him is false and to clear the public mess that the action might cause our local government in the forthcoming general elections.
“Failure to do this within the next seven days, our group shall otherwise take action against him by sensitizing the people that his action is detrimental and a ploy to scuttle the chances of Ogo Oluwa in producing the next federal House of Representatives member.
“We implore him not to see this as an attack on his personality but as a brotherly admonition. This is the right time to speak up against any threats that can further jeopardize our chances in Ogo Oluwa in 2023. We will not fold our arms and allow anything or any individual to destroy that chance”, the statement concluded.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday held a high-level strategic meeting with the Oyo State chapter of the party as part of efforts to reposition the APC for victory and prevent internal crisis ahead of the polls.
The development was first scooped by OYOINSIGHT.COM which quoted multiple party sources familiar with the closed-door deliberations.
Sources disclosed that the meeting, held in Abuja, focused largely on a consensus arrangement being considered by stakeholders of the party in Oyo State, in line with political templates reportedly being adopted in Lagos and Ogun states ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Party insiders said the move was aimed at strengthening unity within the fold of the opposition party in the state, minimising rancour during the primaries and presenting a formidable front against rival parties in 2027.
It was further gathered that some members of the state executive committee may have been subtly informed about preferred consensus candidates being considered for elective positions across the state.
Though details of the deliberations were still sketchy as of press time, sources hinted that the national leadership stressed the need for cohesion, discipline and strategic alignment among stakeholders to improve the party’s electoral fortunes in Oyo.
Those at the meeting included the Oyo APC Chairman, Moses Alake Adeyemo; the state secretary, Fatai Adesina Adeniyi; the Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare; the Organising Secretary, Aderemi Adepoju; and the Legal Adviser, Sunday Aborisade.
Others were the Women Leader, Adekemi Opatunde; the Youth Leader, Olalekan Oladejo; Joshua Oyebamiji; Tunde Oloyede; Sunday Babalola; Joseph Omoniyi; and Mojeed Adebayo.
As of the time of filing this report, the party had yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of the meeting.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, on Monday assured aspirants and party members that the party would conduct transparent, peaceful and credible direct primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeyemo declared that no aspirant would be victimised or denied a level playing field, stressing that the party leadership remained committed to internal democracy and progressive ideals.
The former deputy governor spoke while receiving members of the APC Screening and Appeal Committees deployed from the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja at the APC Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan.
He disclosed that although the party initially explored consensus arrangements across elective positions, prevailing realities indicated that direct primaries would be conducted in some areas, including the governorship contest.
Adeyemo said the party had already put necessary structures in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise capable of strengthening unity within the APC.
He said: “We set machineries in motion for us to achieve the aim of consensus across board but reports available to me indicate that we would have to go by the second option which is direct primary in certain cases including the governorship ticket.
“To this end, we shall work towards organising free, fair and credible exercise in all the affected areas even as we cannot rule out the possibility of some aspirants having a rethink and supporting the consensus arrangement as necessary.
“Where we have more than an aspirant, Abuja would send people to conduct primaries and we at the state level would provide the required support to make everything work out in the interest of our great party.”
The APC chairman explained that all registered party members would participate fully in the exercise at their respective wards on dates to be announced by the National Secretariat.
According to him, affirmation would be adopted in areas where consensus candidates emerge, while voting would be conducted wherever direct primaries become necessary.
“For consensus, members will lend their voices for affirmation while voting will be done in the cases of direct primary,” he added.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Screening Committee and former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Taofiq AbdusSalam, assured party faithful that the committee would carry out a thorough, transparent and unbiased screening process.
He said only eligible aspirants would be cleared to participate in the primaries and eventually fly the APC flag in the forthcoming elections.
Other members of the Screening Committee are Kamal Sanusi (Secretary), Smart Oluwole, Tunde Kolade and Olabamiji Agunloye.
Members of the Screening Appeal Committee are Jibola Oduwole (Chairman), Abimbola Jack (Secretary) and Jelil Jimoh.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress on Saturday zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, declaring that the party’s candidate would serve a single four-year term if elected.
The decision was reached during the party’s national convention held in Abuja amid growing momentum within the opposition platform following a wave of high-profile defections from other political parties.
Announcing the development on its official social media handle, the party stated, “NDC presidential ticket is zoned to the South!!”
The party also resolved that its 2031 presidential ticket would be ceded to Northern Nigeria as part of efforts to maintain regional balance and internal equity.
The convention comes as key opposition figures, including former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former New Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, joined party leaders and delegates at the Abuja gathering.
Saturday’s convention is expected to ratify several recent decisions taken by the party’s National Executive Committee, including zoning arrangements, amendments to the party constitution, and the election of new national executives.
According to the convention agenda obtained by journalists, discussions centred on zoning, ratification of the amended constitution, and leadership restructuring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC has in recent weeks witnessed a surge in defections from rival opposition parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
On Tuesday, no fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives defected from the ADC to the NDC.
Their defections were formally announced during plenary at the House of Representatives.
The lawmakers include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande and Munachim Umezuruike.
Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omoruyi and Abdulhakeem Ado.
The defections came barely two days after Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC from the ADC.
The duo were presented with the party’s membership cards last Sunday shortly after a closed-door meeting with party leaders.
A former Governor of Bayelsa State and NDC national leader, Seriake Dickson, officially welcomed the opposition figures into the party.
Obi had attributed his exit from the ADC to worsening internal crises, external interference and what he described as increasing hostility within party structures.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria’s political environment had become increasingly toxic, marked by intimidation, insecurity and sustained scrutiny of opposition figures.
He also lamented that institutions meant to protect citizens were now often deployed against them, while individuals committed to genuine public service faced mounting pressure both publicly and privately.
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