The Director-General of the Dr. Gbemileke Alagbe “Eleniyan” Campaign Organisation in Oyo State, Hon. Agboola Alphonso, has explained that the recent protest at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Ibadan was staged to demand justice over what the campaign described as an alleged substitution of the party’s duly elected governorship candidate.
Alphonso said Alagbe emerged victorious in the ADC governorship primary election, which was monitored by relevant authorities, including INEC, and that his name was subsequently uploaded on the electoral commission’s portal.
According to him, the decision to protest followed the discovery that when INEC was expected to display the name of the candidate who emerged from the primary, the name of another individual appeared instead.
He said this prompted supporters of Alagbe to stage a peaceful protest at the INEC office around Agodi Gate, Ibadan, on Tuesday.
Alphonso further alleged that investigations into the matter revealed that Alagbe’s name remains on the backend of the INEC portal, while some details relating to the other individual were allegedly handwritten rather than typed, including information on the candidate’s form.
He stressed that the campaign organisation had no intention of taking the ADC to court, explaining that the legal action was instituted to protect the mandate of the candidate they voted for.
“We did not and will never take the party to court. The case was taken to court to protect the rightful candidate we voted for under the law,” Alphonso said.
He added that INEC had assured them that since the matter was already before the court, the judiciary would determine the appropriate course of action.
The campaign DG subsequently appealed to ADC members and supporters to remain calm and hopeful, expressing confidence that the matter would be resolved in favour of Alagbe.
He said the resolution of the dispute would, in his view, represent a victory against injustice in Nigeria’s political system, while expressing confidence that the ADC would emerge victorious in the 2027 Oyo State governorship election.
‘Alagbe Remains Our Legitimate Candidate’ — ADC IBSWLG Chairman
Also speaking, the Chairman of the ADC in Ibadan South-West Local Government, Comr. Idris Adeshola Lawal, described politics as a game of wisdom and urged party members to remain steadfast.
Lawal alleged that some of those involved in the current controversy were not bona fide members of the ADC when the party was being built in Oyo State.
He said Alagbe played a significant role in building the party before the emergence of the individuals currently involved in the dispute.
According to him, there were attempts to create division within the party until the courts eventually recognised Alhaji Yinka Olona as the authentic chairman of the ADC in Oyo State.
Lawal said that after efforts at consensus failed, the party proceeded with a governorship primary election in which members voted for their preferred candidate.
He maintained that Alagbe secured the highest number of votes and was subsequently declared the ADC governorship candidate.
He added that the primary election was monitored by security and electoral authorities, including the Department of State Services (DSS), INEC and the Nigeria Police Force, with officials deployed to monitor the exercise across wards and local government areas.
“We have the reports and the procedures used during the election. After the collation, Alagbe won with the highest number of votes and was pronounced the candidate of the ADC,” Lawal said.
He insisted that Dr. Gbemileke Alagbe Eleniyan remains the rightful winner of the primary, urging party members not to be discouraged by the ongoing controversy.
Lawal called for calm and expressed confidence that the party’s mandate would be protected through the legal process.
He also reaffirmed his belief that Alagbe would emerge victorious in the forthcoming Oyo State governorship election.