The leaders and stakeholders meeting convened yesterday at the House of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Oyo State, Barrister Bayo Lawal ended in deadlock. They were unable to reach a consensus to adopt a candidate that will represent the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan South East and Ibadan North-East Federal constituency during the 2023 general elections.
It was gathered that those present at the stakeholders meeting from the said two local governments were Chief Bayo Lawal, Barrister Muyiwa Makinde, Hon. Dare Adeleke, Mogaji Abass Oloko, Hon. Funmi Arulogun, Alhaji Akeem Azeez (Gov. Makinde’s Personal Assistant), Hon. Kunmi Adesina, Hon. Gbenga Adewusi (Arole), Alhaji Abidikugu, Hon. Emmanuel Alawode and.Hon. Ibrahim Akintayo,
Others in attendance include Hon. Muhammadu Inakoju, Mogaji Wale Oladoja, Hon. Fatai Adesina, Alhaji Hazzan, Hon. Remi Yusuff, Hon. Abiodun Adedoja (Ekolo), Alhaji Dauda Yusuff, Senatorial Women Leader, Senatorial Youth Leader, party Chairmen in the two local governments, Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige, Hon. Abbas Adigun (Agboworin) who are aspirants for the House of Representatives election, among others.
However, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party who is also a major stakeholder in the said federal constituency was absent at that meeting.
An insider at the meeting who craved anonymous informed Rulers’ World that at the commencement of the meeting, the leaders from the Ibadan South East Local Government made a passionate appeal to their counterparts from Ibadan North East to concede the ticket to Ibadan South East where the incumbent came from on the ground that the Ibadan North East are currently enjoying and holding juicy positions both elected and appointed in this current dispensation.
It was gathered that majority of the stakeholders and leaders from Ibadan North-East while acceding to this request, vehemently rejected the nomination of any candidate like the incumbent Hon. Abass Adigun Agboworin, according to them, neglected the party leaders immediately he assumed office in 2019 when he was elected to represent the said federal constituency at the National Assembly.
They warned leaders from Ibadan South East Local Government not to repeat such a mistake like 2019 in their efforts at presenting a candidate from among the aspirants that are jostling for the House of Representatives ticket.
The insider source quoted Hon. Funmi Arulogun to have specifically told the leaders present at the meeting that this time around the Ibadan South-East must present a candidate who is a complete party man that will not be taken for granted. Hon. Arulogun was quoted to have made this statement in the presence of Hon. Agboworin is also seeking re-election for the second term.
The source informed RW that the suggestion of a fresh and credible candidate by Hon. Funmi Arulogun was also supported by Mogaji Wale Oladoja, Hon. Muhammadu Inakoju, Alhaji Abidikugu, Kunmi Adesina and others to replace the incumbent Hon. Agboworin as the candidate of the party.
However, Hon. Dare Adeleke pleaded with those present at the stakeholders meeting to give automatic tickets to the rejected Hon. Agboworin, a plea that was met with stiff reaction from others with a warning that any attempt to impose Hon. Agboworin on the party may spell doom and result in anarchy for the party.
The leaders who opposed Hon. Dare Adeleke’s plea for an automatic ticket for Agboworin called on the Oyo State Governor Engr Seyi Makinde and Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja to respect the majority decision of the stakeholders for a fresh and popular candidate who will respect the leaders and the party to emerge from the Ibadan South East Local Government.
They promised to bring this development to the notice of Governor Seyi Makinde and Ambassador Arapaja at the enlarged stakeholders meeting slated for today at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan by 12 noon.
