Members of the Unity Forum, a group within the Oyo state chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), on Thursday, issued a seventy-two-hour ultimatum to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to address percieved imbalances that arose as a result of the state congress of the party.
The state congress which produced Chief Michael Adedokun Adegbite, Mr. Wasiu Emiola, Engineer Akeem Olatunji and Mr. Adeoye Adekola as Chairman, Secretary, Public Relations Officer (PRO) and youth leader respectively, DAILY POST recalls was held on Tuesday in an hotel in Ibadan, the state capital.
But, members of the Unity Forum which included: former secretary to the state government, Dr. Busari Adebisi; former APC state deputy chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi; Senator representing Oyo Central, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, Chief Goke Oyetunji; Engineer Remi Olaniyan, Dr. Kola Balogun; Hon. Adigun Ahmed; Hon. Fatai Salam and Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun among others while speaking at a press conference held in Ibadan, declared the state congress held on Tuesday as not only illegal but invalid and unconstitutional.
They added that both the ward and local government congresses were inconclusive, hence there was the need for the national leadership of the party to cancel the purported state congress within the seventy-two hours ultimatum.
The former SSG, while reading the forum’s communique during the press conference, said “That the ward congress held across Oyo state on Saturday 25th August 2018 is inconclusive in most of the wards.
“That the local government congress held across Oyo state on Monday 27th August 2018, where local government executives of the party as well as delegates for the state congress are to be elected remain inconclusive in most local government across the state.
“No avenue was given for the resolution of issues emanating from the congresses by the party especially, the local government congress from where the delegate list for the conduct of the election into state executive offices of the party at the state congress is supposed to be generated.
“That, due to issues arising from the local government congress and non readiness of huge number of local government excos and state delegates who are the fulcrum of those to vote at the state congress, the national headquarters of the party through her chairman, Chief Ralph Osita on the 27th August, 2018, the day when the inconclusive local government congress took place decided to postpone the conduct of the state congress in Oyo state and did postpone the same until further notice.
“That the notice of postponement was well circulated among members and delegates for the state congress of the party who then decided to remain at their various council and go about their daily activities following the postponement. That till date, no further notice regarding this postponement has been given to the members of the party. That it was resolved that attempt to foist or impose any list of state exco members from any quarters is hereby vehemently opposed”.
Adebisi, on behalf of the forum, described the state congress as illegal, and issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the national secretariat of the party to address their complains, noting that failure to correct the imbalances, the group will consider other options where its interest would be protected.
He said, “That the kangaroo and illegal congress purportedly carried out should be cancelled as same was invalid, illegal and unconstitutional. That all legal means will be taken to ensure the cancellation of the charade called state congress.
“That Unity Forum while leaving avenue for the resolution of the impunity, we will consider any other option for our teeming members to realise their political ambition and our numerous supporters yearning for good governance.
“We are given the national leadership of the party seventy two hours to address the impunity, failure to do that after the seventy two hours, the members of the Unity Forum will decide the next move.”
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