The stalwarts of Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Oyo West Local Government stormed Oyo State Secretariat today to protest against what they referred to as alleged imposition of PDP candidate for Oyo West Local Government in the forthcoming council election.
The PDP loyalists who carried placards with various inscriptions stormed the State Assembly today to register their grievances.
The Spokesman of the Group, Comrade Olayiwola Jeleel Olalekan while speaking to ODUDUWA NEWS said they would not accept any attempt to impose candidate in their local government.
He said the Party has already settled down for a candidate after the screening, stating that they followed due process based on the zoning arrangement. He said the incumbent chairman was from Zone A and that their usual tradition is to select from another zone.
He further averred that there was an internal party primary held at Rt Hon Olawale Atilola’s residence known as Walat Court, Oyo London area, Ojongbodu, Oyo State on Wednesday, 12th July 2023, which had in attendance all 23 stakeholders as well as 17th Chairmanship aspirants. The primary produced Engr. Seyi Makinde’s ex-Campaign Director General in Oyo West Local Government, Hon. Afolabi Idris (Aloma) who emerged with 13 votes out of 23 votes while other aspirants got one vote each.
“In our traditional way, the leaders and stakeholders agreed in the spirit of fairness, unity, and equity to announce Hon. Afolabi Idris (a.k.a Aloma) as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming local government election.
“Going by the consensus arrangement and endorsement by the party stakeholders and other aspirants reaffirmed the Candidacy of Hon. Afolabi Idris popularly known as Aloma as the Party’s candidate”, said by the Group’s Spokesman.
He however called on Governor Seyi Makinde and other PDP stakeholders to prevail on the party leaders not to tamper with the mandate given to Aloma and respect the people’s choice that has been duly elected by the party as against the imposition of the incumbent Local Government Chairman as candidate.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Fadeyi while addressing the protestors assured them that their protest letter will be delivered to the Speaker and that they would address it at the stakeholders’ meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.
Fadeyi while assuring them of ensuring justice charged the protestors to continue to be law abiding as their grievances have been duly noted.