FORMER deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Adebayo Adelabu has emerged governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Oyo State.
In the primaries which ended at about 3.50am on Monday, at Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, Adelabu emerged winner with 4,889 votes to beat two aspirants, former governor Adebayo Alao Akala who polled 65 votes and Dr Azeez Adeduntan who had seven votes.
Though four other aspirants, Mr Joseph Tegbe, Dr Olusola Ayandele and Dr Owolabi Babalola and subsequently Mr Niyi Akintola, had on Sunday evening announced their withdrawal from the race, Chairman of the Primaries Committee, Mr Demola Seriki had insisted that elections had to hold because Alao Akala and Adeduntan did not formally withdraw from the contest.
It would be recalled that former governor Adebayo Alao Akala and Azeez Adeduntan had on Saturday and Sunday respectively announced their boycott of the primaries, noting that the process was unfair and tailored to favour a particular candidate.
In accepting his emergence as governorship flagbearer of the APC, Adelabu promised to improve upon the foundation laid by the incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration, if he emerges as governor.
Declaring no victor, no vanquished, Adelabu avowed that the APC will win the governorship election in the state, with the cooperation of all members and stakeholders in the party.
While raising the hand of Adelabu as candidate of the party, Ajimobi, alongside Oyo APC Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, said he was pleased that he would be handing over to an intelligent, accomplished, young and development-focused Adelabu as next governor.
However, Adelabu’s smooth emergence was initially met by the refusal of Akintola to withdraw from the race, with Akintola stating that he was spurred on by his supporters to remain in the race.
Though Akintola later withdrew when voting had commenced, he lamented that he felt cheated that his years of loyalty to the progressives was not rewarded.
He hinged his subsequent withdrawal on appeals over the phone by several leaders and stakeholders in the country, especially that of National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Beyond withdrawing from the governorship contest, Akintola added that he was done with partisan politics.
“Today is a sad day. I want to say that I was determined to contest this primaries from the word go, determined to hearken to the advice and support of my people across the state.
“I want to be a symbol of a struggle, symbol of struggle against oppression, against anti-party activities. I happen to be a Bola Ige and Asiwaju Tinubu boy. I have come a long way and I dare say that nobody in this state has done more for the progressives as much as I have done, and even across the length and breadth of the South Western part of the country.
“I have made enemies because of being a progressive. Apart from Asiwaju that has lived up to the expectation of a leader, I have not really benefitted anything from my struggle of almost 30 years. I was chased away from the state for almost seven years and five attempts were made on my life.
“I happen to be the first lawyer in this country to win an impeachment case. I was a counsel to many South West governors including the National Chairman of our party. There are a lot of things we have done together. But a system that will not reward loyalty is not a system I will continue to dwell in.
“I have listened to advice of our leaders especially that of Asiwaju Tinubu. The decision I’m taking today is against the wish of my family. I have always been known to fight based on principle. I have fought a good fight.
“I have worked for so many people but it appears there is no reward for me in politics. My younger brother and I have fought a good fight. He has got what he fought for but beyond that, I feel cheated. I hereby announce my withdrawal from this contest in deference to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and also announce my exit from partisan politics for good,” Akintola said.
