ABEOKUTA– As the Local Government Elections draw nearer, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has been petitioned by some All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Arigbajo Ward in Ewekoro Local Government area over an alleged imposition of candidates.
In the petition directed to the state chairman of the party, and the council’s caretaker committee chairman, by their solicitor, Lekan Ojo & Associates, titled: “Complaint Against Acts Of Imposition Of Councillorship Candidate And Conduct Likely To Cause Crisis In APC, Arigbajo Ward,” the party leaders said the announcement of one Mr. Anisere as the councillorship candidate of the ward contrary to the majority candidate Mr. Stephen Olumuyiwa Eleyowo, could spark crisis if not immediately addressed.
The petition further reads, “during a meeting held at the party secretariat in Arigbajo on May 17, 2021, the party ward leaders nominated Eleyowo as a councillorship candidate for Arigbajo to the dissatisfaction of a party leader, Bamidele Obadina who nominated Anisere.
“We are also briefed that upon the dissatisfaction of Obadina and his consequent moves to overturn the nomination, the leadership of the party at the council intervened and directed that an election be conducted to determine the candidate, however this process was disrupted when it was found that three of the voters nominated by Obadina were not eligible to vote in that election.
“Consequent upon the failure of the conduct of the election, it was our brief that the leadership of the party at the state level intervened and directed that the three most important ward leaders would determine the candidate and as such picked Hon. Gbolahan Famuyiwa, Obadina and Hon. Yemisi Adeniran. While Obadina nominated Anisere, the other two ward leaders nominated Eleyowo on June 2, 2021 via a phone call.”
While noting that Anisere is currently serving as a legislative aide to the House of Representatives member representing Ifo/Ewekoro, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka since 2015, the leaders said it is just and equitable to allow Eleyowo who is not occupying any political position to enjoy the mandate given to him by the ward members.
“The All Progressive Congress is known among other things for justice and equity and any action targeted at derailing from these qualities are not to be condoned, especially when same is been perpetrated by some elements not totally devoted to the cause of the party but their selfish ambitions.
“Article 21 of the All Progressives Congress Constitution, 2014 (as amended) provided the procedures to be followed in a case like this imposed the duty to make a redress on the Execute Committee of the party at the relevant level,” the petition concludes
