Former Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala, and the Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Advisory Council in Oyo State says the party will return to the people.
He made the declaration on Tuesday while addressing the party’s supporters and leaders who thronged his Ibadan residence, demanding for fair and just process in the forthcoming state congress slated for Oct.16.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the party’s congress is expected to produce a new set of executives for the party in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Alao-Akala decried the level of impunity and disrespect for the institution of the party in the state.
He said the party leadership would no longer tolerate distruptive tendencies that would expose it to ridicule and disrepute at the slightest opportunity.
“No matter the status of any individual, the party is supreme. Anybody that calls him or herself a politician can never be recognised without belonging to a political party.
“Your political party will serve as your identity. It is on the platform of that political party that you will ply your political trade.
“You can never use your surname to contest and win an election, so why can’t we abide by the rules guiding the party,” he said.
Alao-Akala said that the party would no longer tolerate any disrespect from anyone who gained political leverage on its platform.
The former governor said that anybody caught in this web of impunity would be sanctioned appropriately as prescribed by the party’s Constitution.
“There are rules of engagement and it will henceforth be followed to the latter. You will all decide who you want to lead the party in the forthcoming state congress.
“Our people should understand that they cannot be the aspirant and at the same time be the one in charge of the party structure. You can’t eat your cake and have it.
“Anybody clamouring for the party structure is wasting his or her time. The party has returned to the people who are the members of the party,” he said.
Alao-Akala said that the state congress would be an open affair and nobody’s ambition would supercede the interest of the party.
“I assure you that every local government will have a representative on the state executive. The era of some local governments being disenfranchised in the scheme of things is over.
“We have 36 positions in the state executive and we have 33 local government areas in Oyo State.
“Each local government will have a slot in the spirit of fairness and equity unlike in the past where some local governments have up to three representatives in the state exco,” he said.
Alao-Akala described APC as a progressive-minded institution which the state would tow its line firmly.
“If the delegates at the party primaries decide to vote for a candidate from Ibarapa North as governorship candidate of the party, so be it.
“We will work with whoever emerges and ensure the party win the election,” he said.
