By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Oyo State has declared that only one Accord party is known to the Commission in the state.
INEC spokesman in the State, Alhaji Ayodele Folami stated this in Ibadan during a chat with the New Nigerian on the purported factional crisis rocking Accord party in Oyo State.
According to Alhaji Folami, contrary to the claim that INEC representatives attended the separate state congresses of Accord, no INEC official attended the Olubadan stadium congress of a break-away faction of the party.
He stressed that INEC was only invited to the congress held at the Green Spring hotel by the party’s State Chairman Dr Bashir Lawal through a letter to the commission, adding that Lawal is the only recognised party official who writes to the commission.
Alhaji Folami emphasized that INEC “is presently dealing with the Lawal led Accord party”, saying no other individual is recognised by INEC as the state chairman.
He maintained that no INEC official attended the Olubadan Stadium congress, because it was not recognised and the Commission was not aware of it.
It will be recalled that the Accord faction led by former Governor Rashidi Ladoja held its congress at the Green Springs Hotel while the break-away faction held its election at the Olubadan Stadium.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday the State Publicity Secretary of a faction of the party, Hon Josiah Olufemi Idowu declared that the party was no longer “a one man party” in Oyo state.
He said Senator Rashidi Ladoja’s “name and reputation was only used to bring Accord to limelight” in Oyo state and that “things have changed, especially after some political mistakes of last election in the state”.
“Accord is not a one man party. Let it be on record that he was a rallying point and symbol of the party at a time. However, politics is about the people and not a person. The wish of the people is more important in politics. We have a new leadership under the Chairmanship of Honourable Dauda Lawal. Senator Ladoja is a critical stakeholder just like Senator Lanlehin, Ilaka and the rest,”he said.
