Stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State have called on the national leadership of the party to review the outcome of the recently conducted governorship primary election and restore what they described as the mandate freely given to Chief Luqman Oyebisi Ilaka. The demand was contained in a communiqué issued after consultations among party leaders, executives, youth and women leaders, ward representatives, and supporters across the state's 33 local government areas.
Communique Details
The communiqué, read by Architect Bashir Aremu Lawal, leader of the party in Saki West Local Government Area, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the governorship primary election conducted on May 22 and the results announced the following day. According to the stakeholders, the declared result did not reflect the wishes of the majority of party members who participated in the exercise.
They maintained that Ilaka, a former Chief of Staff to the Oyo State Government and the Chief Ladilu of Oyo Kingdom, enjoyed overwhelming support among party members across the state and emerged victorious in 29 of the 33 local government areas. The group insisted that its position was based on reports and records from party structures across the state and could be verified by local government chairmen, secretaries, youth leaders, women leaders, and ward executives who participated in the primary process.
Stakeholders' Position
“The announced result does not represent the genuine outcome of the gubernatorial primary election conducted in Oyo State,” the communiqué stated. “The outcome is inconsistent with the democratic principles, transparency, fairness, and internal party democracy which the ADC has consistently preached and promised Nigerians. The overwhelming majority of party members in Oyo State recognise Chief Luqman Oyebisi Ilaka as the rightful winner of the gubernatorial primary election.”
The stakeholders said they were prepared to present evidence before any appeal, reconciliation, or investigative panel that may be constituted by the party's national leadership. They warned that failure to address the grievances arising from the primary election could erode confidence among grassroots members and adversely affect the party's electoral prospects in the state.
Demands and Loyalty
Consequently, the group urged the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to immediately review the outcome of the primary and establish an independent panel to investigate complaints arising from the exercise. They also called on the leadership of the party to hear testimonies from stakeholders across the affected local government areas and ensure that justice, fairness, and the provisions of the party constitution prevail.
Among their demands was the restoration of what they described as the mandate freely given to Ilaka by the majority of party members. Despite their grievances, the stakeholders reaffirmed their loyalty to the ADC, describing their position as a commitment to justice, credibility, and the long-term survival of the party in Oyo State. They stressed that respect for the wishes of party members and the sanctity of the ballot remained essential to the growth and credibility of any democratic institution.
The group further urged the national leadership of the ADC to seize the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to internal democracy by resolving the dispute in the interest of peace, unity, and the party's future electoral success in Oyo State.
