The South-West Zone of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) has reaffirmed the gubernatorial candidature of Engr. Oyedele Hakeem Alao (Allow Alao) for Oyo State just as it distanced itself from what it described as the unholy romance and criminal adoption of another party’s candidate for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state by AD.
At the meeting of the zone presided over by Otunba Tayo Onayemi, the South-West Zonal Chairman at Tiammy Guest House, Iwo Road, Ibadan on Thursday and which was attended by Chairmen from three states in the zone, Prince Dayo Adeshina (Ogun) Chief Segun Akinropo (Oyo),Hon. Olapade Fakunle (Osun) and two of the National Officers, Mrs. Angela Nola (National Publicity Secretary) and Barr. Kehinde Aworele (National Legal Officer), the action of the illegal South-West leaders’ caucus was described as unheard of, null and void and of no effect.
In a communique signed by the Zonal Chairman, Otunba Onayemi on behalf of the zone, it was stated that Engr. Alao (Allow Alao) remains the governorship candidate of the party, AD in Oyo State, having been endorsed by all parties to the former dispute in the party, adding, “consequently, it is anathema for a non-existent group to attempt disparage of his person and the ticket freely given as well as arrogating non-existent power to themselves”.
The zone, which affirmed the suspension of the Oyo State Caretaker Chairman of the party, Pastor Akin Alamu and his group in the state said, “Mr. Kola Ajayi who was also last week suspended as the Lagos State Chairman on account of dictatorship, selfishness, greed, high-handedness, one-man show administration and anti-party activities in the state are expectedly wounded ego.
Insisting that there’s nothing like South-West AD caucus, the zone said, “what they are doing is aberration and a criminal twist of constitutional fact. The endorsement of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate is anti-party activity, which is also criminal. The CUPP arrangement as mentioned in the said media report is a fraud, because, the body has already endorsed a candidate and the job of CUPP ends there at the national level”.
Quoting the party’s constitution, the zone stated that “in the constitution of AD, there’s no mention of any caucus, let alone that of the South-West. The constitution in Article 8: 2(iii) establishes only the office of a National Vice-Chairman, who is also the Chairman of the zone- South-West. Also in Article 8: 2, B 3, the constitution also establishes only the office of the South-West Chairman.
“The general public is hereby informed that all actions by the so-called South-West leaders’ caucus is null and void and of no effect as South-West caucus is not known to the constitution of the party. Consequent upon this, the expulsion of Aremo Adeola Adepoju (Oyo), Gbenga Adesina (Lagos) and others is hereby nullified.
In Article 16: 4 of AD, only the National Convention or National Executive Council (NEC) has the power to expel a member. It is unfortunate that for pecuniary reasons, disgruntled members of the party could put themselves together under a shed and feed the public with illegalities”, the communiqué read further.
The AD in the South-West zone remarked that Mr. Akin Fasogbon, the only known figure among the rebellious group “is not known to be an Afenifere member as well as Pastor Alamu. Therefore, they can’t be seen as speaking for Afenifere”
