A gubernatorial aspirant in Oyo State and current minister of Communication, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, has rejected the choice of indirect primaries to produce the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state.
Shittu, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Thursday, voiced his suspicion over the decision to adopt indirect primaries in Oyo State at a time other States in the South West settled for direct primaries.
The minister, who said the decision was taken to exclude him, stated that only direct primaries could save the party from the consequences of candidates produced by the delegates of one of the factions still in court over the leadership tussle in the state chapter of the APC.
He charged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to rescind its decision in the spirit of fair play and interest of the party.
He said, “Barrister Adebayo Shittu, the leading APC governorship aspirant in Oyo State, rejects the recommendation of the National Working Committee of the APC for Indirect Primary in the state for the following reasons:
“Those to serve as delegates for the proposed Indirect Primary constitute the bulk of those handpicked for the ill-fated Congresses conducted in Oyo State where they were selected in a parallel congress.
“It should be recalled that the said congresses produced two sets of delegates of which only the supporters of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, rather than those of Barrister Adebayo Shittu were recognized by the former national executive of the APC. This had led to litigation in the court which is yet to be concluded.
“In this circumstance, it will only be fair that the party implement Direct Primary model to allow for fairness and unbiased process, for all candidates from both factions of the Party in Oyo State.
“ ls it not curious that of all the South Western States, it is only Oyo that is recommended for Indirect model which is deliberately being implemented to exclude Barrister Adebayo Shittu from having a fair opportunity to contest, participate and win in the Gubernatorial Primary Election?
If Mr. President who has a country wide constituency has agreed to submit himself for direct primary, why would Governor Ajimobi’s faction refuse direct primary which allows all aspirants in the party to test their popularity and give party members a fair opportunity of voting for the candidate of their choice?
“If the members of the party are the true owners of the party, why would they not be allowed to take ownership of their party particularly with regard to choosing a candidate they can work for, for victory in the general elections?
“Is it not instructive that many foresaw the current regrettable fate of APC in Osun State? In view of this fact, would the Party allow Ajimobi’s desperate desire to produce a stooge as a candidate, which majority of the masses in the state have vowed not to support if presented by the party for general election? This would undoubtedly be an albatross to the party in the forthcoming election.”
He advised the APC to “abide by the rule of law and respect the court processes instead of creating future legal hurdles for the party, as the Court may eventually nullify the outcome of any Indirect Primary Election”.
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