Ladoja Accuses Unity Forum of Changing Template to Win 2019 Elections

By Adams Akorede

A former Governor Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo state and one of the leaders of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged a group within the party, Unity Forum of altering the template designed to win the 2019 general elections in the state.

Pacesetter News recalls that Unity Forum is a breakaway faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former Governor in a chat with a group of journalists on Sunday evening gave the party 48hours to change the name of the gubernatorial running mate of Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, Mr. Saheed Alaran.

Should the group fails to accede to his request within the stipulated time frame, Ladoja promised to make public his position on the happenings in the party.

Ladoja said he had no personal grudges with the said Alaran, a former council caretaker chairman from Iseyin, upper area of Oke Ogun becoming deputy governor but the party would suffer from the votes of the region if the ‘mistake by a group within ADC is allowed to go unchallenged’.

The former governor said for instance, Mr. Alaran hails from Iseyin, the same local government where the Federal lawmaker in Iseyin/kajola/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa constituency who got automatic ticket hails from, and the state house of assembly member to represent Iseyin/Itesiwaju constituency, also an Iseyin man. He said other local governments in the zone and by extension, entire Oke Ogun would feel cheated and may end up punishing the party by denying it their votes in the general elections.

He painted similar scenario in Ibarapa zone where selection of candidates for both the House of Representatives and state assembly ran contrary to an all-inclusive, sense of belonging and much needed ‘federal character’ arrangement

He argued that unlike Ibadan which was more cosmopolitan and politically advanced, the affected region and communities vote based on indigeneship ‘(omo ilu).

Ladoja reiterated his love and preference for the flagbearer, Lanlehin but regretted that he (gubernatorial candidate) was equally not carried along like other party leader, Chief Michael Koleoso, in the selection of the party’s running mate.

According to him, automatic tickets given to serving lawmakers at both the state and national assembly levels among Oyo ADC members altered the political equation and permutations being worked for the emergence of candidates ahead of the 2019 general elections.

He, therefore, gave two-day ultimatum for all the contending issues to be resolved as the windows for substitution close soon.

Of recent, there was widespread reports and insinuations that Ladoja may dump ADC for the Zenith Labour Party, allegedly being financed and supported by his cronies who are feeling disenchanted with the crisis in Oyo ADC culminating in series of court litigation instituted by a group of 12 gubernatorial aspirants who are challenging the manner of emergence of Lanlehin.