By Afolasade Owotutu, Abeokuta
The Ogun State chapter of National Rescue Movement (NRM) has raised alarm on the plan of the immediate past Governor of the State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to replace all its candidates for the 2023 general elections with those of his adopted governorship candidate, Barr. Biyi Otegbeye and others.
Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, House of Representatives candidates for Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency, Dr. Bolaji Olowo, alleged that Amosun had concluded plans to declare all the party candidates dead with issuance of death certificate.
Olowo said, “Our party and candidates attention was drawn to an attempt by Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the immediate past Governor of Ogun State and his ADC Governorship candidate, Barr. Biyi Otegbeye to declare our party governorship candidate, Dr. Tofunmi Ogunronbi, our deputy governorship candidate, Bashorun Femi Branch, two Senatorial candidates, six House of Representatives candidates and twelve House of Assembly candidates dead with a criminal issuance of death certificate in order to pave way for his adopted ADC Governorship candidate, Barr. Biyi Otegbeye to run for governor in 2023”.
“While we are surprise at this height of political rascality, we State here categorically that we are all alive to witness the new year and also contest as our party candidates in the 2023 general elections”.
“We wish to alert the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Inspector General of Police that should anything untowards happens to any of our party candidates, then the search light should be beamed at the former governor and his adopted political son who also double as the ADC Governorship candidate”, Olowo said.
In a swift reaction, Media Aide to Barr. Biyi Otegbeye, Bolaji Adeniji, described the NRM allegation as baseless
Adeniji said, Otegbeye, his Deputy and the 26 House of Assembly Candidates have no knowledge of the NRM neither do they have any dealing or conversation whatsoever with officials or agents of the said party.
Adeniji, in a statement said, “this joke of allegation ordinarily deserves no reaction or clarification, but we have elected to do this response to expose the foolery of the so-called NRM members and the shenanigans of their real sponsors”.
First off, it is laughable that a nondescript and mushroom political party will assume that there is any basis for candidates of a reputable party like the ADC to join them. In a politically sophisticated state like Ogun, why will anyone leave an ADC with good electoral recall and verifiable achievement, and join a non-starter of a party? It makes no sense”.
“Secondly, one wonders how possible it is to still make substitutions of candidates when indeed, the official INEC window for such activity, effectively closed on August 12th, 2022. Is that not a mockery of electoral knowledge or the accusers are just merely baleful in their antics?”
Thirdly, it is no longer news that the ADC and it’s candadates have appealed the judgement of the Federal High Court that sougt to exclude us from the ballot; and to which we are confident of a redress at the Apelate Court. Why then would we embark on such futile voyage as alluded by the NRM elements?”
“Furthermore, it is important to state clearly and without any equivocation that what has just transpired is the latest gambit and hatchet job against the African Democratic Congress (ADC)- by the same people that sponsored the litany of litigations against us. Why they seek to do is to further put our party and candidates in bad light; but they have failed this time”.
“From the words on the street, the people of Ogun State are desirous of a credible and positive change in governance from May 29th 2023; and the ADC is the party to which they look to for such succour”.
“We like to use this medium to reiterate that we will be successful at the Appeal Court and all our candidates will be on the ballot box; with victory assured”.
“The NRM allegations should therefore be discarded as an hogwash and deliberately crafted falsehood fitting only for the trash bin”.
The Ogun State chapter of National Rescue Movement (NRM) has raised alarm on the plan of the immediate past Governor of the State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to replace all its candidates for the 2023 general elections with those of his adopted governorship candidate, Barr. Biyi Otegbeye and others.
Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, House of Representatives candidates for Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency, Dr. Bolaji Olowo, alleged that Amosun had concluded plans to declare all the party candidates dead with issuance of death certificate.
Olowo said, “Our party and candidates attention was drawn to an attempt by Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the immediate past Governor of Ogun State and his ADC Governorship candidate, Barr. Biyi Otegbeye to declare our party governorship candidate, Dr. Tofunmi Ogunronbi, our deputy governorship candidate, Bashorun Femi Branch, two Senatorial candidates, six House of Representatives candidates and twelve House of Assembly candidates dead with a criminal issuance of death certificate in order to pave way for his adopted ADC Governorship candidate, Barr. Biyi Otegbeye to run for governor in 2023”.
“While we are surprise at this height of political rascality, we State here categorically that we are all alive to witness the new year and also contest as our party candidates in the 2023 general elections”.
“We wish to alert the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Inspector General of Police that should anything untowards happens to any of our party candidates, then the search light should be beamed at the former governor and his adopted political son who also double as the ADC Governorship candidate”, Olowo said.
In a swift reaction, Media Aide to Barr. Biyi Otegbeye, Bolaji Adeniji, described the NRM allegation as baseless
Adeniji said, Otegbeye, his Deputy and the 26 House of Assembly Candidates have no knowledge of the NRM neither do they have any dealing or conversation whatsoever with officials or agents of the said party.
Adeniji, in a statement said, “this joke of allegation ordinarily deserves no reaction or clarification, but we have elected to do this response to expose the foolery of the so-called NRM members and the shenanigans of their real sponsors”.
First off, it is laughable that a nondescript and mushroom political party will assume that there is any basis for candidates of a reputable party like the ADC to join them. In a politically sophisticated state like Ogun, why will anyone leave an ADC with good electoral recall and verifiable achievement, and join a non-starter of a party? It makes no sense”.
“Secondly, one wonders how possible it is to still make substitutions of candidates when indeed, the official INEC window for such activity, effectively closed on August 12th, 2022. Is that not a mockery of electoral knowledge or the accusers are just merely baleful in their antics?”
Thirdly, it is no longer news that the ADC and it’s candadates have appealed the judgement of the Federal High Court that sougt to exclude us from the ballot; and to which we are confident of a redress at the Apelate Court. Why then would we embark on such futile voyage as alluded by the NRM elements?”
“Furthermore, it is important to state clearly and without any equivocation that what has just transpired is the latest gambit and hatchet job against the African Democratic Congress (ADC)- by the same people that sponsored the litany of litigations against us. Why they seek to do is to further put our party and candidates in bad light; but they have failed this time”.
“From the words on the street, the people of Ogun State are desirous of a credible and positive change in governance from May 29th 2023; and the ADC is the party to which they look to for such succour”.
“We like to use this medium to reiterate that we will be successful at the Appeal Court and all our candidates will be on the ballot box; with victory assured”.
“The NRM allegations should therefore be discarded as an hogwash and deliberately crafted falsehood fitting only for the trash bin”.
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