One of the aggrieved governorship aspirants of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Sharafadeen Alli, may be on his way back to his old party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
This is coming few days after the national working committee of the ADC affirmed the candidacy of Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin as its gubernatorial candidate.
OYO INSIGHT had reported how the 12 other aspirants had gone to court over the nomination of Lanlehin by the party leaders.
As part of peace efforts, they were said to have been told to recommend one of them to slug it out with Lanlehin. Dr Nureni Adeniran that was however chosen was unable to fulfill his financial obligations to the party. And the party affirmed Lanlehin.
Alli, who was a council chairman, secretary to the state government, chief of staff and chairman of O’dua group, was said to have met billionaire Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate, Engr Seyi Makinde, early this week.
The Ibadan-born politician had left PDP together with former governor Rashidi Ladoja and Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin over alleged dominance by Makinde. This was after Alli, who was former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s running mate in the 2015 election, had joined PDP from Labour Party, LP.
OYO INSIGHT had exclusively learnt that Makinde deliberately ensured that his campaign director general, Barr Adebayo Lawal defeat former deputy governor, Barr Hazeem Gbolarunmi at the Oyo South senatorial primaries of the party.
“Makinde is calculative this time around. He was not okay with the aspirants from Oyo South. And that was why he drafted his campaign DG into the race. He knew that some popular gubernatorial aspirants will fall out with their parties. Initially, he had talks with Sen. Adesoji Akanbi before the latter secured the ticket of the ADC. Talks with Alli has reached top stage. He is already consulting with his people. He would have given his words that day but he said he wanted to carry his people along,” the source confided in this newspaper.
If Alli eventually secured the ticket, he will contest with Akanbi of the ADC, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress, APC and Dr Fola Akinosun of the Action Democratic Party, PDP.
Alli has, however, refuted the defection story. In a statement by one of his aides, All said he remains a member of the ADC.
DELIBERATE FALSEHOOD AND MISINFORMATION ABOUT BSA.
Our attention has been drawn to delibrate false information being spread by some mischief makers about Barrister Sharafadeen Alli.
The misinformation has also been broadcast by an online magazine.
We are aware that the lie is figment of the imagination of the same set of people who have been fingered in various other attempts to tarnish the image of Alli.
Particularly guilty in this instance is a former publicity Secretary of a major political party in Oyo State supported by supporters of a politician.
We wish to state as follows:
1. Barrister Sharafadeen Alli is still a foremost governorship aspirant in the African Democratic Congress.
2. BSA has never had any meeting with Engineer Seyi Makinde or any other PDP chieftain to discuss the Oyo south Senatorial ticket or any such issue for that matter.
3. The Senatorial ticket of the PDP is not under consideration for the Ibadan High Chief.
4. Alli has not withdrawn from the Governorship race as evil minded people behind the rumors will have wished.
We therefore appeal to the general public, friends and supporters of Akogun Alli to take the rumour as a figment of the warped imagination of miscreants and lies from the pit of hell.
We also appeal to our detractors to desist from their nefarious acts or be prepared to face the full wrath of God and the law.
Their campaigns of calumny CAN NOT reduce the towering political stature of Barrister Alli.
Signed.
Femi Ladapo (Femolad)
For Team BSA
