OYO ADC SUPPORTERS STAGE SOLIDARITY WALK TO INEC, DEMAND RECOGNITION OF ELENIYAN

 

Authentic members, stakeholders and grassroots supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) across Oyo State have staged a peaceful solidarity walk to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Ibadan, protesting what they described as the alleged unauthorized substitution of the party’s governorship candidate.

The protesters reaffirmed their support for Dr. Gbemileke Alagbe, popularly known as Eleniyan, whom they described as the candidate that emerged from the party’s governorship primary election.

Carrying placards with inscriptions including; 

“Solidarity Walk Against INEC Injustice,”

“Upload the Certified Candidate — Dr. Gbemileke Alagbe (Eleniyan),” 

“We Say No to Fraudulent Substitution,”

“Our Vote, Our Choice, Our Mandate,” and 

“The People Have Spoken — Eleniyan Ni Joor!”

 The demonstrators called for transparency and protection of the electoral process.

Addressing journalists outside the INEC facility, representatives of the group said ADC members and grassroots supporters across the state had expressed their preference for Eleniyan and urged the relevant authorities to respect the outcome of the party’s primary process.

Major Demands Presented to INEC

• Recognition of Dr. Gbemileke Alagbe (Eleniyan)

The protesters called on INEC to recognize and publish the details of Dr. Gbemileke Alagbe as the ADC governorship candidate, Oyo State, subject to the commission’s verification of the party’s official records and applicable electoral laws.

• Respect for Internal Party Democracy

The group urged all relevant authorities to uphold internal party democracy, due process and the rule of law in determining the authentic candidate of the party.

• Protection of the Grassroots Mandate

The protesters maintained that the mandate expressed through the party’s primary process should not be undermined by what they described as unauthorized arrangements or actions inconsistent with established electoral procedures.

Appeal for Calm and Unity

The group also appealed to ADC members, supporters and residents across the 33 local government areas of Oyo State to remain calm, united and committed to lawful democratic processes.

They declared that their pursuit of the matter would remain within the available legal, electoral and constitutional channels.

“Hope is very much alive. We believe the people have spoken, and we remain committed to ensuring that the legitimate choice expressed through the democratic process is protected.”

The protesters further rejected any attempt to undermine what they described as the people’s mandate, while calling on their supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding as efforts continue to resolve the dispute.