A concerned group under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), has written the leadership of the party in Ibarapa East State constituency to do away with anything that could lead to the ‘imposition’ of Hon. Segun Kolawole as consensus candidate for the House of Assembly in the 2023 elections.
The group urged leaders of the APC in the constituency to produce a more competent and qualified candidate in the party’s primaries for the overall development of the constituency.
The letter reads:
“By virtue of past antecedents, Ibarapa East State Constituency is a major determinant tendency in any election in Oyo State since we returned to civilian administration. Tracing down the historical lane, the imposition of candidates on Ibarapa East Local Government in the progressive fold has usually led to failure. 2018 bye-election is a typical example, 1997 Local Government election is another note and even 2019 general election has proven our protest beyond a reasonable doubt,”
“Therefore, we urge our party leaders to strictly turn to the present political dynamism of the 21st century by giving us a well acceptable candidate who has the enigma to unseat the present occupier of the post. From the sampling opinions we had across the ten wards, ANY OTHER aspirant apart from Hon Segun Kolawole will conveniently win the general election.”
“We implore our party leaders to further engage all the aspirants to peacefully decide among themselves and give us a vibrant candidate using consensus approach as it was shown in our party’s national convention.”
“Within the limited time frame, if all the aspirants fail to produce a candidate among themselves, a level play through direct primary should be the next option other than imposing a controversial candidate upon us. The popularity and acceptability of all aspirants have been tested and need to be re-tested and confirmed openly,” the statement read.
The group also raised an alarm over speculations that Engr. Remi Oseni plans to influence the process in order to pave way for Segun Kolawole.
“There are speculations that Engr. Remi Oseni’s position tends to favour Hon. Kolawole without proper investigation and comprehensive political analysis which we believe may not and cannot be true.”
“We hold strongly that the purported consensus is a calculation to wittingly or unwittingly confer undue electoral strength on the APC by projecting unpopular candidates to contest for House of Assembly from Ibarapa East. Our position is that others have consulted widely and they are accepted by party members, executives and delegates of APC across the council. We assured all Eruwans, Lanlates and its environs and supporters of their preparedness to contest any direct or indirect primaries that will be conducted by the delegates”
“Any planned attempt to import hoodlums to the venue of the primaries if the planned consensus fails will definitely result in a tense situation. We never pray to experience the May 22, 2021, bloody scenario that happened during the Local Government election and led to loss of lives. Please kindly caution and call to order.”
“Finally, we ONLY believe in a transparent and highly democratic system. We say NO TO IMPOSITION and believe we have learnt lessons from our previous mistakes. Once again, an attempt to impose is another walkover and failure. May our party succeed amazingly in the forthcoming 2023 general election.