Oyo APC Leader Begins Mediation Talks Over Candidacy Disputes
By Adewale Owoade
Professor Taoheed Adedoja, a leader of the All Progressives Congress had intensified efforts to broker peace among aspirants jostling for party tickets at the various primary elections across the state ,to preserve unity within the party.
The mediation moves, it was gathered, followed growing tension among supporters of various aspirants seeking elective positions under the platform of the APC across different constituencies and political offices.
Prof Adedoja, a former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, had started engaging aspirants in separate meetings aimed at discouraging bitterness and division that could weaken the party ahead of the polls.
He envisioned that ‘’if my mediation template is considered, the unpicked aspirants will be encouraged to cooperate with the candidates for subsequent campaign activities of the party”
Prof Adedoja who was the 2007 Oyo State Governorship candidate of the Action Congress AC, Said, “from experience any aspirant should be recognised in determining the future of the party and can be negotiated on the mediation table which i am currently exploring with the current circumstances of Oyo State ‘’
Adedoja established that he has spoken to several of the aspirants, who thought they have lost out in the recent Party primaries, to continue to work for the party and imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship
According to him, the leadership of the party believes that allowing prolonged confrontations among aspirants could create avoidable factions capable of affecting APC’s electoral chances.
“The party cannot afford internal disunity at this critical period. That is why am stepping in to mediate ” Adedoja said.
He also appealed to aspirants and their supporters to place party unity above personal ambition, warning against inflammatory statements and actions capable of heating up the polity.
Prof Adedoja emphasised further that the financial and mobilisation efforts of all the aspirants should not be jettisoned when candidates emerge either through primaries or consensus ,considering the array of supporters and sympathizers behind all aspirants
Meanwhile, political observers noted that consensus arrangements, if transparently handled, could reduce litigation, post-primary grievances and internal wrangling often associated with party contests.
However, several aspirants are reportedly insisting on open and competitive primaries, arguing that every interested member should be allowed to test popularity through the democratic process.