With 72 hours to the governorship primaries of the Africa Democratic Congress in Oyo state, the Party may have come to a crossroad as to what method to use in selecting its candidates for various elective positions in the coming elections.
The chairman of ADC in Oyo State Dr. Hammad Ayinla at a meeting with aspirants on the platform of the party yesterday, noted that the party constitution provides three options for selecting candidates, these options are consensus, Direct and indirect primaries, However he did not reveal what option the party will be adopting, even as the primaries draws near.
Nonetheless Sunrisebulletin.com can reveal that the party’s inability to decide on which of the options to adopt may not be unconnected with the plethora of aspirants seeking the party tickets and the interest of various groups that have converged in the Oyo ADC.
It was revealed that some members who are used to the concept of political godfatherism are clamouring for a consensus arrangement, with the hope that they will emerge through the influence of their godfathers, While in the other side of the divide are those who desire that the party should adopt the direct or indirect primaries option in selecting candidates for the party. This group is insisting that only a credible, free and fair primaries will augur well for the party. They reiterated that the era of godfatherism should be a thing of the past.
Another issue for contention according to a reliable source is the plan of those who joined the party from PDP to contest positions with elective officers who had been promised automatic tickets by the national leadership of the party.
it will be recalled that the leadership of the Africa Democratic Congress entered an agreement with members who brought their elective positions to the party to be given an automatic ticket, this agreement covers those who joined as house of assembly members, House of representatives and also members of Senate. However, our source informed Sunrisebulletin.com that in flagrant disregard to this agreement, members who joined the party from the PDP purchased nomination forms to contest with those who have been promised automatic tickets, take for instance in Oyo central Senatorial zone where Senator Monsuratu Sumonu represent, she played a prominent role in making ADC attractive in Oyo state, she was promised an automatic ticket, yet someone from PDP is contesting with her. If this is not a recipe for disaster I don’t know what is, said the source.
Another source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said as it were members of the party who joined from PDP for whatever reason are fearful of the party holding primary elections, and are working assiduously to scuttle the agreement reached with the ADC party leaders.speaking further the source stressed that the party has a good chance to beat the ruling All Progressive Congress in the state, but should be wary of imposition of candidates.
Sunrisebulletin.com also gathered that some party members are already consulting their lawyers, should the party fails to use acceptable means as prescribed by the party’s done to select candidates for the coming elections.
Efforts made to speak with the publicity Secretary and Dr. Hammad Ayinla chairman of ADC were not successful as at the time of going to press.
