L
LequteMan
Guest
The Osun state chapter of the APC has reacted to the defection of Otunba Ademola Adeleke to the PDP.
Ademola is the brother of late Senator Isiake Adelele who died mysteriously months ago. He is in pole position to emerge as the APC's candidate for the upcoming senatorial elections in the state until some opposition emerged. He then unexpectedly defecting to the PDP.
Reacting, APC refused to justify Ademola's exit from its senatorial primary election.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary Barr. Kunle Oyatomi, the party said his withdrawal and resignation are admission of his weakness to confront a tough challenger with substantial grassroots backing.
“Contrary to his erroneous claim of obvious manipulations and interference, paragraph 16(d) of the 2014 Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates for Public Office makes it clear that the National Working Party (NWC), acting on behalf of National Executive Committee (NEC), is the ultimate authority on the qualifications of candidates to contest a primary election.
“This is more so if an appeal is lodged by any aggrieved aspirant or candidate. Therefore, the decision of the NWC cannot be seen as manipulation as this has been the standard practice of our great party since its formation.
“Second, the claim that the primary was not held at the Senatorial District headquarters is baseless. For one thing, there is no such thing as a senatorial district headquarters in the 1999 Constitution.
“Third, available records now reveal that Otunba Adeleke was never a member of APC in the state, as there is no evidence of his registration as a member in his Abogunde/Sagba Ward 2 in Ede North LGA. There are also no records of his involvement in party meetings at all levels.
“Rather, there is a petition, dated the 9th day of June, 2017, which is to the effect that Otunba Adeleke is not a member of the APC. At best, his only affiliations with the party were his occasional appearances with his late brother, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, at party functions, particularly the campaigns.
“The fact that he is a member of the Adeleke family therefore cannot and does not confer membership of the APC on him. This is like the case of Fadeyi Oloro, a popular Yoruba artiste, who always attends APC functions, without being a member of our great party.
“In any event, at the Security Stakeholders Meeting held just yesterday, where Otunba Adeleke was represented by his brother, Dele Adeleke, he did not object to the arrangements for the primary, but rather concurred with the outlined procedure, including the venue, security and logistic arrangements.”
He continued; “The lesson to be learnt from this unfortunate event is that the party should stand at all times by its committed and loyal members, and abide by the constitution and core values that bind loyal party members. Our members should henceforth understand the hypocrisy of political jobbers, who are affiliating with us for pecuniary benefits.
“It is instructive to reflect on the sad irony of Otunba Adeleke’s behaviour. It will be recalled that it was Senator Mudashiru Olatunji Husain, who, in 2015, voluntarily relinquished the senatorial seat, which he won in the 2011 senatorial election against Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke with a landslide margin of 112,000 votes, at the behest of the party.
“As a loyal party member, Senator Hussain accepted the demand of the party to surrender the Senate seat he occupied to Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke without a contest, as a mark of honour for the deceased Senator and respect for the decision of the party. ”
Ademola is the brother of late Senator Isiake Adelele who died mysteriously months ago. He is in pole position to emerge as the APC's candidate for the upcoming senatorial elections in the state until some opposition emerged. He then unexpectedly defecting to the PDP.
Reacting, APC refused to justify Ademola's exit from its senatorial primary election.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary Barr. Kunle Oyatomi, the party said his withdrawal and resignation are admission of his weakness to confront a tough challenger with substantial grassroots backing.
“Contrary to his erroneous claim of obvious manipulations and interference, paragraph 16(d) of the 2014 Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates for Public Office makes it clear that the National Working Party (NWC), acting on behalf of National Executive Committee (NEC), is the ultimate authority on the qualifications of candidates to contest a primary election.
“This is more so if an appeal is lodged by any aggrieved aspirant or candidate. Therefore, the decision of the NWC cannot be seen as manipulation as this has been the standard practice of our great party since its formation.
“Second, the claim that the primary was not held at the Senatorial District headquarters is baseless. For one thing, there is no such thing as a senatorial district headquarters in the 1999 Constitution.
“Third, available records now reveal that Otunba Adeleke was never a member of APC in the state, as there is no evidence of his registration as a member in his Abogunde/Sagba Ward 2 in Ede North LGA. There are also no records of his involvement in party meetings at all levels.
“Rather, there is a petition, dated the 9th day of June, 2017, which is to the effect that Otunba Adeleke is not a member of the APC. At best, his only affiliations with the party were his occasional appearances with his late brother, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, at party functions, particularly the campaigns.
“The fact that he is a member of the Adeleke family therefore cannot and does not confer membership of the APC on him. This is like the case of Fadeyi Oloro, a popular Yoruba artiste, who always attends APC functions, without being a member of our great party.
“In any event, at the Security Stakeholders Meeting held just yesterday, where Otunba Adeleke was represented by his brother, Dele Adeleke, he did not object to the arrangements for the primary, but rather concurred with the outlined procedure, including the venue, security and logistic arrangements.”
He continued; “The lesson to be learnt from this unfortunate event is that the party should stand at all times by its committed and loyal members, and abide by the constitution and core values that bind loyal party members. Our members should henceforth understand the hypocrisy of political jobbers, who are affiliating with us for pecuniary benefits.
“It is instructive to reflect on the sad irony of Otunba Adeleke’s behaviour. It will be recalled that it was Senator Mudashiru Olatunji Husain, who, in 2015, voluntarily relinquished the senatorial seat, which he won in the 2011 senatorial election against Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke with a landslide margin of 112,000 votes, at the behest of the party.
“As a loyal party member, Senator Hussain accepted the demand of the party to surrender the Senate seat he occupied to Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke without a contest, as a mark of honour for the deceased Senator and respect for the decision of the party. ”
