•Caretaker committee holds parallel primary
FORMER Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Dr Akin Onigbinde has emerged the governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy in the state.
Onigbinde emerged at the party congress which was held on Saturday at A-Three Hotel, Along Iwo Road-Ojoo Expressway, Ibadan.
The primary which was organised by the Michael Akinropo led state executives was witnessed by party national leaderships, southwest leadership, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission amongst other delegates.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Onigbinde who emerged through the nomination and affirmation by the delegates emerged unopposed alongside three senatorial candidates, 12 house of representative candidates and 32 house of assembly flag bearers.
Meanwhile, another caretaker committee of the party led by Pastor Akin Alamu also held its congress at the Greenspring Hotel, Old Ife Road, Ibadan.
But the National Legal Adviser, Mr Kehinde Aworela who as at the Akinropo’s led primary where Onigbinde emerged said, the party constitution does not in anyway recognise caretaker committee but affirmed Onigbinde and other candidates for other elective positions as duly recognised flagbearers of the party for the 2019 general elections.
Present at the Akinropo’s led primary are delegates from all the 351 wards in the state, state executives and about over 15 national officers of the party.
The national officers who monitored the exercise include, the National Vice Chairman/Southwest Chairman, Otunba Tayo Onayemi, National Vice Chairman South South, Mr Keneth Brown Ebughe, Chairman Congress and Primary Committee who also doubles as the National Welfare Officer, Mr John Okafor, Assistant National Secretary, Idris Musa Mohammed, National Deputy Legal Adviser, Mr Ken Emekowa, National Auditor, Mr John Onoku, Assistant National Organising Secretary, Mr Abubarkar Germans and National Women Leader, Abigirl Aina.
Others are, National Ex-Officio, Mr Steve Omodogbe, Osun state chairman, Mr Olapade Fakunle, National Legal Adviser, Mr Kehinde Aworela, National Ex-Officio, Hajia Sadatu Bello, National Organising Secretary, Roland Kiente and Deputy Nations Treasurer, Ahmad Sagir amongst others.
The Alamu led caretaker primary, which produces Mr Akeem Alao as the governorship candidate was witnessed by the party National Secretary, Mr Akin Fasogbon, a party chieftain, Mr Ayinla Bello, Ekiti state caretaker committee chairman, Mr Famuseye Charles.
Addressing the delegates at the Akinropo’s primary, the Chairman, National Congress Planning Committee for Oyo state party delegates Congress and party primary, Mr Okafor said the national leadership of the party was shocked at what he described as the private decision of some individuals to set up caretaker committee, noting that any other primary held outside of the one witnessed by the national leaderships is a nullity.
He said “We are all shocked at the private decision of Mr Joseph Avazi and the National Secretary, Mr Akin Fasogbon to create a caretaker committee to run the affairs of Oyo state.
“Apart from the fact that our party does not know or recognise a caretaker committee structure in our party, it has no place in our constitution and if any decision of such magnitude were to be taken, it cannot be taken by only two persons pretending to be chairman and secretary NWC and NEC all roles into one. The party cannot be greater than the whole. Neither NWC nor NEC was privy to such a decision.”
State chairman, Mr Akinropo noted that the party used to be a united house until Azazi and Fasogbon sowed the seed of discord.
He assured the members that the illegality would soon be resolved by the court, noting that the matter of caretaker committee is already laid before it.
National Legal Adviser, Mr Aworela distance the party of its national leadership from any other purported primary by any individual or group, noting that the party which is known for its integrity and uprightness will not allow any form of illegality in its fold.
Dr Onigbinde in his acceptance speech thanked the national leadership, state executives, local government execñutives and all the delegates for the confidence reposed in him to fly the flag of the party come 2019 governorship election.
He assured the people of the state that the party still has all that it takes to bring the state back on track and restore its pace setting glory with both human and infrastructural development that would impact on the people.
