Youths within the camp of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibadan North local government area of Oyo State, have petitioned the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party over the alleged imposition of candidates to represent them in the forthcoming federal and state house of assembly elections.
The youths drawn from the twelve wards in the local government area alleged that the candidates that emerged in the area were imposed on them.
Those who signed the petition were: Adewunmi Adepoju (Ward 12); Aliu Segun (Ward 11); Rauf Nurudeen (Ward 3); Iyiola Taiwo (Ward 3); Baba Ibadan (Ward 6); Abdullahi Ayodeji; Esther Adedokun (Ward 6); Abubakar Ibrahim (Ward 5); Oyedokun Abel (Ward 3): Usman Ishola (Ward 5); Taiwo Akeem (Ward 12); Ibrahim Murphy (Ward 12); Lamidi Kazeem (Ward 12); Amina Oke (Ward 11) and their Secretary, Usman Ishola.
The youths, who expressed their displeasure over the decision of Governor Abiola Ajimobi to impose candidates on the party for the 2019 general elections, also copied the state chapter of the party; its national party headquarters and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The governor’s action, according to their petition, a copy of which was made available to newsmen on Sunday “is contrary to the resolution proposed by the Governor on September 9 2018 and agreed to by all aspirants for Federal House of Representatives and State House of Assembly to adopt the indirect primaries method for the election of candidates to the various legislative positions.
“This action of imposition is not in the spirit of democracy as all aspirants purchased nomination forms and also expended resources in campaigning for the primaries, only to be told by the Governor on the day of the primaries (October 3rd) that aspirants must step down for each other and support the candidate he (governor) has anointed.
“This action of imposition is not in the spirit of democracy as all aspirants purchased nomination forms and also expended resources in campaigning for the primaries, only to be told by the Governor on the day of the primaries (October 3rd) that aspirants must step down for each other and support the candidate he (governor) has anointed.
“We as loyal party members are not only worried, but aggrieved by the actions of the Governor as this disregard for the party constitution and resolution reached with aspirants on the 9th of September has caused a lot of disaffection within the rank and file of party members which does not augur well for the fortunes of the party in the upcoming elections in 2019.
“Party members in Ibadan North Local Government are today in disarray and confused because the Governor decided to impose his chief detail (Saheed Aderonmu Adeshina) who joined the party about three months ago and he is unknown to a majority of party members prior to his declaration for House of Representatives.
“Saheed Aderonmu Adeshina is from Oyo town and not Ibadan. The Governor also directed other Federal aspirants to step down their ambitions and offered them the 2 House of Assembly tickets in Ibadan North Local Government.
“This unilateral action has, therefore, denied the 13 House of Assembly aspirants who purchased forms and campaigned vigorously in the expectations that there will be Indirect Primaries as adopted in Oyo State for electing candidates for the upcoming elections in 2019.
“We are writing this petition to formally put on record that there was were primaries elections in Ibadan North Local Government for both Federal House of Representatives and State House of Assembly.
“Against this background, we want to appeal to the National Working Committee and the National Chairman of the party to please redress this great anomaly and injustice.”
