Yusuf Oketola
MEMBERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Otan-Ile, Obokun East Local Council Development Area (LCDA), State of Osun, yesterday thronged the streets to protest alleged imposition of a chairmanship candidate by some leaders of the party in the state.
This is just as the aggrieved members threatened to denounce their membership of the party if the imposition is not reversed.
The party members who trooped out in large numbers, said they were against the rejection of the current Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Bello Saliu Bamidele, whom they claimed emerged the winner of the party’s local government primary election before the results of the polls were upturned by those they described as “powerful people” in favour of another person.
According to the protesting APC members, since the creation of Obokun local Government, Otan-Ile had never produced any political office holder.
They noted that despite their total commitment to the bid of the party, they were astonished by the decision of some party leaders to drop the name of their son, Bamidele who emerged the winner of the primary.
“Bamidele’s name was fraudulently exchanged with the name of a person who could not win his unit in both the governorship and local government primary elections.
“What happened is purely a deliberate attempt to rub and take away our mandate”, said the APC members.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, APC Chairman, Ward 008 in Otan-Ile, Chief Isaac Akinleye, said they would do everything within their reach to take back their stolen mandate.
Akinleye said: “We are here not to fight, but to protest against the imposition of a candidate.
“We have come to register our grievances and would take back the power of the chairman that was stolen away from us because APC in Otan-Ile has really worked hard for the party, but has never been represented in the local government since its creation.
“The Caretaker Chairman, Saliu Bello, who emerged winner in the primary election held in five towns under Obukun East LCDA won in three towns namely Imesi, Otan and Esaoke. Ilare and Esaodo did not take part in the voting process.
“A few days after the election, the returning officer and others who came to conduct the primary election, made a U-turn in the results already declared, with strange figures and declared one Owoeye from Esaoke the winner.
“We want Saliu back because he is the authentic winner and if not, that means they want us out of the APC party.”
Echoing a similar view, an Otan-Ile High Chief, Mrs Ajayi Folashade, said the ancient town has been denied in the distribution of political appointment since its creation.
