Politics
Oyo : Lanlehin was imposed on ADC, his selection was undemocratic – Oseni
By Idowu Ayodele
ONE of the governorship aspirants of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in Oyo State, Engineer Aderemi Oseni, on Saturday insisted that Senator Olufemi Lanlehin was imposed on the other twelve aspirants and other members of the party as its gubernatorial candidate.
Oseni, who stated this in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, while featuring on a private radio station, also maintained that Lanlehin did not emerge as the party’s governorship nominee through popular choice but through an alleged manipulation by the ADC national secretariat in Abuja, describing the process as undemocratic.
It would be recalled that Lanlehin was announced as the candidate of the party by some leaders last week, a decision which has triggered altercation among the supporters of the other twelve (12) gubernatorial aspirants and other members of the ADC.
Speaking on the purported endorsement of Senator Lanlehin by the national secretariat of the party, Oseni maintained that the selection was wrong and undemocratic.
According to him, “Senator Olufemi Lanlehin was imposed on ADC in Oyo state as the governorship candidate. His selection was wrong and undemocratic.
“His candidature was not divine. We only have problem with his nomination, we don’t have problem with Lanlehin as a person”.
The guber aspirant added that Oyo state at this particular period needs a person who is divinely ordained to lead the state in the right way, calling on the citizenry to hold ADC leaders responsible should the party failed at the end of the general elections.
He observed that the emergence of Lanlehin as the ADC governorship candidate completely negated the outcome of the agreement reached by all the 13 governorship aspirants in the party that an election be held among them and that whoever emerges as the winner of the election should become the party’s governorship candidate and as well be supported by other aspirants for the 2019 general elections.
Oseni explained further that at the said election among the aspirants, Dr Nureni Adeniran emerged winner while himself came second with Senator Lanlehin coming fifth, noting that before the election, all the aspirants signed an undertaking that they will all abide by the outcome of the election.
He also added that after the election, all the other 12 aspirants including Lanlehin congratulated Adeniran who later proceeded to the Abuja National Secretariat of the party for other processes of perfecting his emergence as the ADC governorship candidate in Oyo state.
Continuing, the ADC gubernatorial aspirant said he was surprised to see a press release issued by the ADC National Secretariat claiming that Senator Lanlehin emerged as the party’s governorship candidate after a “keenly contested election”.
Oseni unearthed that it was then that he withdrawn his earlier support for Senator Lanlehin’s governorship bid.
While lamenting that it was unfortunate that the party’s national secretariat manipulated Adeniran out of the race by claiming that he did not obtain any nomination form which they themselves know was not true, Oseni, however insisted that he will not dump ADC for any other political party.
The Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, on Thursday announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that he had joined the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, made the announcement during a media briefing in Abuja, attributing his decision to what he described as irreconcilable differences within the PDP.
The lawmaker said the emergence of the NDC would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic system by providing a credible opposition platform.
According to him, the party recently received its certificate of registration from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said, “Last week INEC issued a certificate of registration and we now have the newest party in Nigeria known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress and our symbol is victory, the victory sign.
“So, my dear Nigerians, you now have a credible alternative opposition party known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress.”
Dickson noted that although the party’s registration took longer than expected, its eventual approval was a welcome development for the country’s democratic landscape.
“Yes, it is coming at this time. We would have wished it started some years or months back. We don’t control INEC and their processes; they delayed. We don’t also control the judiciary, but thank God it has finally arrived,” he said.
The senator also stressed that Nigeria’s democracy must not slide into a one-party system, insisting that political diversity remained vital for national stability.
“This nation cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria is not designed to be a one-party state.
“We are a very diverse nation culturally, religiously and politically and that is the beauty of our country.
“So anyone or any party promoting one-party rule in Nigeria is mistaken. We build political parties and get involved in movements to access power for the good of the people, not for our personal benefit,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission recently announced the registration of two new political parties.
The parties are the Democratic Leadership Alliance and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, bringing the total number of registered political parties in Nigeria to 21.
The announcement was made by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political party stakeholders for 2026.
According to him, the Democratic Leadership Alliance completed the required verification process, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress was registered in compliance with a Federal High Court order.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and member representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated the newly elected State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.
The party, at its state congress held on Tuesday at Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, elected a former Deputy Governor of the state, Moses Alake Adeyemo, as its new chairman alongside other state executive members.
Oseni, in a statement on Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, described Adeyemo’s emergence as well-deserved, noting that his experience and longstanding commitment to the party would further strengthen its structure in the state.
He said the peaceful conduct of the congress demonstrated the party’s commitment to internal democracy and progressive leadership.
The statement said, “I congratulate our newly elected State Chairman and leader, His Excellency, Moses Alake Adeyemo, and other members of the State Executive Committee on their emergence. This victory reflects the confidence reposed in them by party members across the state.”
Oseni further expressed confidence that the new leadership would reposition the party for greater cohesion and electoral success.
According to him, “This is a critical moment for our party in Oyo State. It calls for unity, reconciliation, and renewed commitment to the ideals that bind us together as progressives.”
The federal lawmaker assured the new executives of his support and cooperation in advancing the programmes of the party and strengthening its grassroots structures.
He urged party members to rally behind the new leadership to ensure stability and secure future victories for the APC in the state.
Politics
Ibarapa East Assembly Hopeful, Ramon Congratulates Ajiboye, Says Emergence Good for Oyo APC
An aspirant for the Ibarapa East State Constituency seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Engr. Yusuf Abiodun Ramon, on Tuesday congratulated Alhaji Lateef Akinsanya (Ajiboye) on his emergence as the State Treasurer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.
Akinsanya was elected at the party’s state congress held today, a development party faithful in Ibarapa East Local Government described as significant for the zone’s growing influence within the APC structure.
In a statement issued shortly after the announcement of the results, Ramon described Ajiboye’s victory as “well-deserved and timely.”
According to him, “Alhaji Lateef Akinsanya has remained steadfast, loyal and committed to the ideals of our great party. His emergence as State Treasurer is a clear affirmation of the trust and confidence members have in his integrity and administrative competence.”
Ramon noted that the election of a party stalwart from Ibarapa East into a critical financial office at the state level would further strengthen grassroots participation and unity within the APC.
“This is not just a personal victory for Ajiboye; it is a collective achievement for Ibarapa East. It reinforces our relevance in the progressive family and encourages broader inclusion in party administration,” he said.
The aspirant expressed confidence that the new treasurer would discharge his responsibilities with transparency, accountability and diligence in order to deepen internal democracy and institutional stability within the party.
He urged party leaders and members across Oyo State to close ranks in support of the newly elected executive members to ensure cohesion and effective management of party affairs ahead of future political engagements.
Ramon reaffirmed his commitment to the growth of the APC in Ibarapa East and Oyo State at large, stressing that sustained unity and responsible leadership remain essential to consolidating the party’s strength across the state.
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