The leadership of the Action Democratic Party, ADP, has reacted to the alignment deal by its governorship candidate and former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala with the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to support the ambition of Oloye Adebayo Adelabu.
Alao-Akala, OYO INSIGHT recalled, had struck a deal to support Adelabu last week after meeting Tinubu.
But in a statement made available to OYO INSIGHT by the chairman of the party in the South West, Chief Lateef Arowosaye, the party said it is unaware on any pact with the APC.
This is just as party urged electorate to vote for all ADP candidates in next Saturday’s election.
Our attention has been drawn to the statement by Otunba AlaoAkala to the effect that he has withdrawn his candidacy from the gubernatorial election in Oyo State scheduled for next week. The ADP wishes to make the following clarifications after consultations at all levels of the party’s leadership:
1. We have not been formally informed by Otunba Alao Akala of his decision to withdraw from the gubernatorial race.
2. The gubernatorial ticket belongs to the party and not the candidate. (3)The legal department of our party is fully informed and appropriate legal advice is being awaited.
The ADP therefore remains in the gubernatorial election moreso when the window of substitľution of candudates has closed.
4. We call on our teeming members and supporters of the ADP to troop out on March 09 2019 and vote for the ADP in the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections..
5.The ADP wishes to also state that it is not in alliance with the APC in Oyo State. We have campaigned on the strength of our positioning as the credlible alternative to the ruling APC in Oyo State. It will therefore be ridiculous to turn around at the 11th hour and embrace what we have used the lifetime of the ADP to condemn.
6. The ADP is however in talks with other opposition parties in Oyo State to give the people of Oyo State a new breath of life.
We shall duly inform party members and the public at large of this initiative at the fullest of time.
Signed:
Chief Lateef Arowosaiye
Vice Chairman(South West)