Bye-election threatens Oyo AC’s peace moves

By Akin Durodola - 18.01.2008

THE peace moves embarked upon by the two factions of former governors of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina and Senator Rashidi Ladoja to strengthen the Action Congress (AC) in the state are being threatened, the Nigerian Tribune can reveal.

The reconciliation moves, which started on a good note, are gradually hitting the rock if the feelers from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and state secretariat of the AC are anything to go by.

The bone of contention now is the choice of candidate for the January 26 bye-election into the Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency. Both groups have not agreed on who should present the candidate for the election.

The Lam Adesina-led group, the Nigerian Tribune gathered, had on Tuesday, January 15, submitted the name of Hamidu Ajibade to beat Wednesday deadline in accordance with the INEC timetable, while the National Organising Secretary the party, who is believed to be working for the Ladoja group, was in Ibadan on the following day to submit the name of Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, former Chief Press Secretary of Senator Ladoja.

This development, it was gathered, may spoil the chance of the AC in the upcoming bye-election — because both factions had resolved to stick to their gun on this.

A source at the AC secretariat in the state who preferred anonymity said the latest action of the Ladoja group “is an indication that they are secretly working for the PDP.”

The source said that the Adesina-led group was not ready to accept the choice of Ladoja-led group because “we are not ready to concede any defeat to the PDP again.”