Former Lagos State Commissioner of Police and ex-Special Adviser on Security to Oyo State Governor, Fatai Owoseni, has withdrawn from the Accord Party governorship primary in Oyo State, citing alleged internal manipulation, infiltration, and rising violence within the party.
Owoseni announced his decision on Tuesday in a statement, describing the move as a difficult but necessary step in light of what he called disturbing developments capable of frustrating his political ambition on the Accord platform.
The retired police commissioner, who only recently joined the Accord Party after resigning from Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration and obtaining his governorship nomination forms, said unfolding events within the party had made it impossible for his aspiration to thrive.
“I speak with a heavy but resolute heart to the good people of Oyo State and our teeming supporters. Recent developments within the Accord Party have compelled me to rethink my political company and association,” Owoseni stated.
According to him, one of the major reasons for his withdrawal was what he described as the total infiltration and manipulation of the party’s structure, particularly at the state level, by political interests determined to maintain influence and frustrate genuine democratic participation.
“The first is the total infiltration and manipulation of the party structure by elements who will go to any lengths to ensure that perpetuity in government is sustained,” he said.
Owoseni also raised concerns over what he called the emergence of thuggery and violence as tools being deployed to destabilise the party and derail a transparent primary process.
“Secondly, thuggery and violence are emerging as instruments to destabilise the party and ensure that the entire process is stalemated,” he alleged.
Despite stepping away from the Accord Party, Owoseni assured his supporters that his commitment to the development and security of Oyo State remains unwavering.
“The quest for the greater good for the greater majority remains our focus. To our supporters who have believed in this cause, I offer my heartfelt gratitude and ask for your understanding at this moment,” he added.
He also expressed sympathy for victims of the recent security crisis in Ogbomoso, noting that the state’s worsening insecurity should ordinarily be the top concern of political leaders and stakeholders.
Owoseni’s withdrawal comes barely weeks after his dramatic entry into the Accord governorship race, where he had promised issue-based politics, continuity in development, and an end to money-driven electoral contests.
Political observers say the development may significantly alter the dynamics of the opposition party’s preparations for the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State, while raising fresh questions about internal democracy and stability within the Accord Party.
