Oyo: Agboworin denied run at second term

Majority of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and stakeholders have voted to replace Hon. Abbas Agboworin of Ibadan South East/North East Federal Constituency  in the next year’s general election, vehemently rejecting his second term ambition at a meeting yesterday.

At the commencement of the meeting held at the house of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Oyo State, Barrister Bayo Lawal, it was learnt that the leaders from the Ibadan South East Local Government made passionate appeal to their counterparts from Ibadan North East to concede the ticket to Ibadan South East where the incumbent came from on the ground that the Ibadan North East are currently enjoying and holding juicy positions both elected and appointed in this current dispensation.

It was gathered that majority of the stakeholders and leaders from Ibadan North East while acceding to this request, vehemently rejected the nomination of any candidate like the lawmaker, Agboworin who, according to them, have neglected the party leaders immediately he assumed office in 2019 when he was elected to represent the said federal constituency at the National Assembly.

According to sources, Hon. Dare Adeleke pleaded with those present at the stakeholders meeting to give automatic ticket to Agboworin, a plea that was met with stiff reaction from others with a warning that any attempt to impose him on the party may spell doom and result in anarchy for the party.

The PDP stakeholders warned leaders from Ibadan South East Local Government not to repeat 2019 mistake in their efforts at presenting a candidate from among the aspirants that are jostling for the House of Representatives ticket.

It was gathered that Hon. Funmi Arulogun specifically told the leaders present at the meeting that this time around the Ibadan South East must present a candidate who is a complete party man that will not take them for granted. 

Arulogun, as reliably gathered, made this statement in the presence of Hon. Agboworin who is seeking re-election for second term.

It was gathered that the suggestion of a fresh and credible candidate by Hon. Arulogun was also supported by Mogaji Wale Oladoja, Hon. Muhammadu Inakoju, Alhaji Abidikugu, Kunmi Adesina and others to replace the incumbent Hon. Agboworin as the candidate of the party.

The leaders who opposed to Hon. Dare Adeleke’s plea for automatic ticket for Agboworin called on the Oyo State Governor Engr Seyi Makinde and Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja to respect the majority decision of the stakeholders for a fresh and popular candidate who will respect the leaders and the party to emerge from the Ibadan South East Local Government.

They promised to bring this development to the notice of Governor Seyi Makinde and Ambassador Arapaja at the enlarged stakeholders meeting slated for today at the Government house, Agodi, Ibadan by 12 noon.

Those present at the stakeholders meeting from the said two local governments were Chief Bayo Lawal, Barrister Muyiwa Makinde, Hon. Dare Adeleke, Mogaji Abass Oloko, Hon. Funmi Arulogun, Alhaji Akeem Azeez (Gov. Makinde’s Personal Assistant), Hon. Kunmi Adesina, Hon. Gbenga Adewusi (Arole), Alhaji Abidikugu, Hon. Emmanuel Alawode and.Hon. Ibrahim Akintayo, 

Others in attendance include Hon. Muhammadu Inakoju, Mogaji Wale Oladoja, Hon. Fatai Adesina, Alhaji Hazzan, Hon. Remi Yusuff, Hon. Abiodun Adedoja (Ekolo), Alhaji Dauda Yusuff, Senatorial Women Leader, Senatorial Youth Leader,  party Chairmen in the two local governments, Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige, Hon. Abass Adigun (Agboworin) who are aspirants for the House of Representatives election, among others.

However, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party who is also a major stakeholder in the said federal constituency was absent at that meeting.