As the deadline for the conduct of primaries by political parties for the forthcoming council election draws near, sources within the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have alleged that there is a plan to delay the process, so as to pave way for the ‘imposition’ of candidates.
The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, had, last week, announced May 12, 2018 as the day for the polls, giving February 14, 2018 as the deadline for the submission of candidates by all parties.
This is just as sources told insideoyo.com that some members of the party are ready for showdown with the anybody with such plans.
They alleged that loyalists of Governor Abiola Ajimobi are mounting pressure on him against selection of candidates through primaries.
They threatened to go to court should the party impose candidates for the election.
One of the sources, who confided in insideoyo.com, explained that ‘the plan is that the governor would jet out of the country any moment from now, only to return 2 days or so before the deadline. The party will be unable to conduct primaries until he returns. He will now call an emergency meeting on his return, telling party faithful that it\’s better to select candidates rather than conduct primaries, so as to save time and manage crisis. He will tell party members that selection would be the best in order to allow new defectors to have a chance of contesting.’
The source added: “I wonder why the governor is afraid of primaries. He should nurse any fear having spent close to 7 years in office. He should allow democracy to thrive. He should not listen to anybody. The best way to make every aspirants, who have toiled many days and nights, spending money, is to allow primaries. Winners and losers will congratulate each other and later work for the party’s success. This is not fabrication; we have our facts.
“The governor should advise the party to come up with workable guidelines, which must be in accordance with the one released by OYSIEC. But if the governor allowed himself to be advised in a bad way, we will not hesitate to go to court. Many people obtained their nomination forms with loan. We know everybody cannot win but, at least, let them show their strength,” the source added.
