By Oladele Ogunsola, Ibadan
An alarm has been raised by the Oyo State gubernatorial candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has entered into an
alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to subvert the will of the people in the next year general elections.
Otunba Alao-Akala, a former governor of the state raised the alarm in Ibadan at the official presentation of Alao-Akala and Olaiya as the party’s gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates respectively and the official inauguration of Akala-Olaiya Campaign Organization.
The former governor disclosed that information at his disposal made it known to his camp that “some bad elements in the INEC are conniving with the ruling APC to disenfranchise thousands of voters across the state and weakening the leading opposition candidates in their strongholds by engaging in state-wide illegal relocation of voters from their units/local government of origin to another units/LGAs”.
Describing the step by INEC as ‘advanced rigging method’, the ADP standard bearer called on the INEC Chairman and the security agencies to put a stop to it.
In the address entitled, ‘Why I want to be governor again in 2019’, he
said he “is on a rescue mission to reposition the state for the betterment of our people and investors”, adding, “I’m offering myself again to serve the good people of Oyo State because I’m healthily and mentally fit for the rigorous tasks of governance”.
Lamenting that ‘Oyo State is in a mess’, the ADP said his heart ache because 90% of the outgoing government’s policies, programmes and projects could best be described as anti-people which leave the people in pain and despondency.
Having been part of the ruling APC until very much recently when he lost out at the party’s gubernatorial primary election, Otunba Alao-Akala said he made himself available to the incumbent governor for guidance on how best to run proactive and pro-people governance instead of criticising, but, he said “the driver lacks the required goodwill”.
The former governor stated further that his coming again to rule the state would bring succour, humane posture, robust economic activities, even and equitable infrastructural developments that were once entrenched in governance of the state during his past tenure and which he said would be improved upon with renewed vigour.
To the members of the campaign organization, Otunba Alao-Akala tasked them to see the assignment before them as daunting, requiring tact, polished strategies and highest commitment to dislodge the ruling party in the state, even though, the ruling party is aware that their time was up given the pedigrees of the ADP candidates.
“You must work as a team, an assignment of this nature needs self denial, bravery and sound judgement of situations and keeping ourselves abreast of the happenings in the opposition camps. We are passionate about delivering results, results that have positive impacts on mankind”, he further charged.
