Accord’s NWC inaugurates new Exco in Oyo

Action of  former Exco, a betrayal, backstabbing— Adelabu

Following the recent sack of the State Executive Council of Accord party in Oyo state, the National leadership of the party on Sunday inaugurated a five-man Caretaker Committee for the State.

The National Chairman, Mohammad Nalado who was represented by the National Legal Adviser, Maxwell Ngbudem and the National Vice Chairman, Southwest, AlhajiDokun Babarinde condemned the action of the sacked Exconoting that the party is known for its integrity and oneness of mission.

The national leadership had dissolved the Ojo Kolade- led Exco following their public endorsement  of Governor SeyiMakinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as its preferred governorship candidate without consultation with the party leadership, an action which was frowned on by the party’s NWC.

The New Exco are Alhaji Isiaka Salami (Chairman); Mr. Bashiru Ayobami (Secretary); Hon Fatai Salawu (member); Mrs Bimpe Martins (member) and Hon Ayodele Oyajide(members). Two members of the new exco- Ayobami and Oyajide were part of the previous exco.

The Exco is to oversee the affairs of the party pending when the State Congress would be held. The inauguration which was held at the Party’s new State secretariat, Oke Ado, Ibadan was attended by party leaders from across the state.

Speaking before the inauguration, the National Legal Adviser said it was shameful for a group of people to work against the decision of the party. He vowed that appropriate sanction would be meted out according to party provisions.

He charged  members to go across the State and inform the people that Accord has not stepped down its candidacy for the governorship position or  membership of the House of Assembly.

He added that the party is strongly behind Oloye Adebayo Adelabu for the governorship seat as well as all its House of Assembly members.

Speaking earlier, Adelabu said the betrayal was not unexpected but not acceptable. He expressed shock that some individuals could turn to political jobbers for selfish gainswhich clearly shows that they lack faith in the vision and mission of the party in the state.

He commended the national leadership of the party for the promptness and quick intervention saying it took less than two hours when the former Exco made their fraudulent endorsement of Makinde that the National leadership issued a statement denouncing the move and sack of the affected Exco.

He said it was disheartening that after the party candidates had spent so much money to campaign and mobilise for the election, the Bola Tinubu tsunami made them lose at the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

He said put together, the candidates have spent close to N3billion during the electioneering process but that the governorship election will prove many things wrong and show the wide acceptability of Accord in the State.

The ex-CBN deputy governor narrated a whole lot of what the candidates had gone through in the hands of the past leadership due to their selfish pursuits.

He said the one week extension of the governorship election by INEC was a blessing in disguise for the Accord as it would enable the party to further make a strong bit for the governorship and Assembly elections.

“We are not divided along any line. We are one and we remain one in our party. As a political party, the only objective for any political party is to contest election and win and not for political trading.

“We decided to opt into Accord from the APC because we saw it was the next popular party that has reach and spread after the other two big major parties.

“We were warned about those individuals that we met in the party and we gave them all they asked to make them comfortable. If they needed money, we gave them even in excess just to ensure we are united and focused.

“They have taken a lot of steps that we were aware of but we were just watching. They started making troubles since the days we started to select candidates to conduct elections.

“There are a number of reasons that we lost the presidential and National Assembly elections though majorly due to Asiwaju’s tsunami. No candidate campaigned more than our candidates for the National Assembly positions.

“Vote cast was for Asiwaju, not APC. It was for Atiku not PDP. And for Obi, not LP. It was about individuals and not party.

“The forthcoming governorship election too would be about individuals and not party.

What the sacked Exco did amounts to betrayal and backstabbing. It was not unexpected.

“Apart from the chairman and secretary, no single party member supported them.

Adelabu recalled that the action of the Exco was not strange. “That was what they did in 2019 when they came out to disown the party candidate.

“The National Secretariat who are fair in their assessment kicked and condemned the action. The decisions of the national leadership to sack the exco because of their action is highly commendable and appreciated.

“Let us forget about the past and move ahead and God will give us good success. ”

Speaking on behalf of the new exco In his acceptance speech, the chairman, Alhaji Salami pledged  loyalty of the excos to the national leadership and members of  the party and all the  candidates in the State.

He said the party must take advantage of the one week extension to work and reclaim the state and prove that it is the only alternative for the masses of the state.