Faithful members and supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest from Iwo Road to the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Ibadan, demanding the recognition and upload of Dr. Gbemileke Alagbe Eleniyan as the party’s authentic governorship candidate.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions, including “INEC Uphold Democracy,” “The People’s Voice Must Be Heard,” “Respect the Will of the People,” “No to Electoral Injustice,” “National Executive & INEC, Give Us Our Mandate in Oyo State ADC,” and “We Voted Alagbe, Not Adegoke.”
Speaking during the protest, the state Financial Secretary, Hon. James Obasa, said the party’s governorship primary was conducted under the leadership of the recognised state executive.
He stated that the primary election was held across the 33 local governments on May 22, while the collation took place at the Alumni Hall, University of Ibadan, with relevant authorities invited to monitor the exercise.
According to him, Alagbe emerged as the winner after the votes were collated, and the protesters are therefore demanding that INEC reflect what they described as the outcome of the legitimate primary in its final candidate list.
Obasa alleged that the ADC National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, submitted the name of Oloye Taofeek Adegoke, whom he alleged was not a member of the party, without a primary election being conducted for him and without INEC monitoring such an exercise.
He, however, acknowledged that the final list of candidates had not yet been released, urging INEC to “do the needful” by recognising and uploading Alagbe’s name.
He also called on Adegoke to stop presenting himself publicly as the ADC governorship candidate of Oyo State.
Also speaking, Hon. Comr. Giwa Saheed Olamilekan referred to a video circulating online in which he alleged that Taofeek Adegoke claimed that the candidate’s name was uploaded through his efforts and with the help of God.
Giwa consequently questioned the integrity of the electoral process, alleging that if INEC could permit irregularities during a party primary, Nigerians might question whether the commission could be trusted to conduct a credible general election.
ADC Secretariat Responds
Responding to the protesters at the ADC state secretariat, the party’s Oyo State Publicity Secretary, Barrister Bimpe Adelowo, said their demands had been received and formally submitted.
Adelowo noted that the matter was already before the court and expressed confidence that the judiciary would determine the rightful candidate.
He also alleged that Aregbesola was behind the controversy, adding that the National Chairman had advised them to seek legal redress.
As a legal practitioner, Adelowo said he remained confident that justice would ultimately prevail.
He urged party members to remain calm and he collected the official letter presented by the protesters on behalf of the group.
