Fatai A. Owoseni, a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police and governorship aspirant under the Accord Party in Oyo State, has announced his withdrawal from the race. He cited deepening internal crisis, alleged infiltration of the party structure, and rising insecurity concerns within the political process as reasons for his decision.
In a statement shared on his Facebook account and addressed to supporters and party members on Tuesday, Owoseni said he made the decision with a "heavy but resolute heart." He also extended greetings to residents of the state and prayed for a peaceful Eid al-Kabir celebration.
The former Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Oyo State government expressed condolences to families affected by a recent attack in Ogbomoso, noting that his thoughts were with the victims who were killed and those still in captivity. While acknowledging the sensitivity of the security situation, he said he was compelled to speak out due to developments within the Accord Party that, according to him, had made his continued participation in the governorship race untenable.
He alleged that there were "orchestrated plans" to undermine his ambition within the party. He said, "within the past twelve hours, ongoing developments in the party point to orchestrated plans to ensure that our gubernatorial aspiration via the platform of the Accord Party is not achieved."
Owoseni further claimed that he initially ignored warning signs but was eventually forced to act due to what he described as two major concerns: alleged infiltration of the party structure at the state level and the use of violence and thuggery to destabilise the political process. He stated that these issues, among others, informed his decision to step aside from the race.
"In light of the foregoing and some other issues that will be unveiled in due course, I'm compelled to withdraw and step aside from the Accord Party," he said.
The withdrawal marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Oyo State as the Accord Party prepares for its governorship primary. Observers note that Owoseni's departure could impact the party's strategy and candidate selection process. The former police commissioner did not announce any immediate plans to join another political party but left the door open for future political engagement.
