The crisis rocking the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) has taken a new dimension as Oluyole Social Elites Club, members of the Electoral Committee of the 2023 CCII election and other concerned citizens of Ibadanland kicked against the disqualification of Barrister Niyi Ajewole.
Ajewole, who is contesting against the incumbent President-General of CCII, Prince Yemisi Adeaga was said to have been disqualified by the Electoral Committee illegally.
Oluyole Social Elites Club, in a letter jointly signed by its BoT chairman, Kola Onaolapo and Secretary, Kola Adelakin, which was titled “Disqualification of the Nominee of Oluyole Social Elites Club from participating in the 2023 CCII General election”, described Ajewole’s disqualification as unfortunate, null and void.
The letter reads, “Recollect that your committee is a creation of the constitution of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes. Also recollect that you have a programme of events for the coming general election.
“Does it not sound funny for you to have cleared our candidate and published his name as cleared on the 7th March, 2023 and turned round, to disqualify him?
“It is rather unfortunate that you want to be used ingloriously by some people who will not be able to protect your name at critical time.
“Our Club finds it rather amusing that your committee allows itself to be used to scuttle the wish of members of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes.
“Take note that once you cleared our candidate and published his name, you have no power under the constitution or any other law for that matter to disqualify him and the functions and powers of the Board of Trustees of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes are unambiguously well spelt out in the constitution and it does not include teleguiding the Electoral Committee.
“It is worthy of note that your assertion that the BOT is the highest decision making organ of CCII is fatally wrong as Sec. 3.0(i) of the constitution states that “THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY shall be the Supreme authority of the CCII and its regulatory Body.
Also, three members of the Electoral Committee, Quadri Bayo, Engr. Remi Oluokun and Dr. Mojeed Lawal, in a letter dated 27th March, 2023 which was addressed to CCII Secretary General disociated themselves from the purported disqualification.
The letter reads, “We, the following members of the Electoral committee of 2023 CCII General wish to state categorically that we are not a party to the disqualification of the candidate of Oluyole Social Elites Club.
“At no time did any reason arise for us to have arrived at the decision to disqualify the said candidate as he did not breach any part of the constitution of CCII since he is not currently an officer of CCII but only aspires to be an officer hence the said reason of having disqualified him from participating in the election on the basis of the excuse that two officers from a club cannot be in the executive of CCII has not arisen as he is still an aspirant, may be by the time the election is conducted and per adventure he wins and the current officer is still there, that is when this may then become an issue in which the Arbitration Committee will consider the issue based on the Constitution.
“If it cannot be resolved, the petitioner can forward his or her petition to Election Arbitration Appeal Panel which is the final stage.
“Sections 3:3(iii) (Immediate Past Secretary General of the CCII) and 8.2(iii) (No Constituent Club shall have more than one officer in the Executive Council at a time), do not apply in this instance based on the point raised above. As the committee reiterated in the last assembly meeting that we will always abide by the constitution. It is on this premises we stand on. Constitution is bigger than anybody.
“Furthermore, the petition written by Country Club was baseless and did not hold stand to the said issue, the screening exercise was conducted on the 22nd and 23rd of Feb, 2023 while the petition was received on 3rd of March 2023, therefore, on what ground is that justified?
“Moreover, the screening result had been released and pasted since, why is it now that a group of members in the electoral committee will now disqualify a contestant?
“We are not parties to those who signed the letter of disqualification of any candidate, based on the above, we want to reiterate that Bar. Niyi AJEWOLE to the best of our knowledge is still eligible to contest for the office he aspires for in CCII elective post for year 2023.”
Meanwhile, a General Assembly has said to have been slated to hold on Friday, 31st March, 2023 in Ibadan House, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan to address the current crisis.
