Four big opposition political parties in Oyo State, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have merged together with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to form a coalition to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in Oyo State.
This was disclosed on Tuesday during a press conference organised by the opposition parties, held at Dapo Aderogba Hall, NUJ Press Center, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
The spoke person for the coalition parties who is also the former gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Senator Olufemi Lanlehin while speaking on behalf of other opposition candidates who stepped down for the gubernatorial candidate of PDP, Engineer Seyi Makinde said that it is no longer news that a good number of parties in Oyo State have deliberately in the last few weeks come to the resolution that there is an urgent need to free the state from the shackles of outside oppression and domination.
Lanlehin said “We have therefore decided that in order to present an effective and workable solution to the unpalatable situation where Oyo State has been remotely controlled for the past eight years by outside forces and all manners of constituted authorities, there is the need to form this alliance of political parties in the state”.
Lanlehin noted that the coalition has firmly resolved to present one candidate in the person of Engineer Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the office of governor at the elections holding on 9th March 2019.
“Makinde shall be heading by the special grace of God and by the power of the people of Oyo State, a government of Unity which will cater for the interest of all our people irrespective of their political affiliations”.
He pointed out that in the interest of thriving democracy, the coalition has also resolved that the House of Assembly election will be contested on party basis and all candidates in all the parties are encouraged to go to the polls and contest for the seats available in the Oyo State House of Assembly as scheduled.
“We hereby make a clarion call on the good people of Oyo State to vote en-mass for the alliance candidate, Engineer Seyi Makinde so as to midwife an all inclusive government of Unity that belongs to the people of the State”.
He, however, urged all the people to reject the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its candidates in the state at the Saturday election and vote for freedom and emancipation, adding that the government of Unity will be one that will meet all the aspirations of the people of Oyo State by fully applying all the resources of Oyo State for the development of the State.
In his remark, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday election, Engineer Seyi Makinde said that “history has been made today, we have come here to rescue our people with a common goal, although it is a difficult decision for this arrangement to have been made”.
Makinde noted that the spirit and intent of the coming together of the coalition will be fully implement.
He urged the people of Oyo State to reject the APC gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State in Saturdays poll, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, as the people have rejected the governor in Oyo South Senatorial District in the last Presidential and National Assembly Election because Oyo money should stay in Oyo State not in Lagos.
Political big wigs at the event included, Barrister Sharafadeen Ali, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, Honorable Stanley Olajide, Senator Kola Balogun, Chief Waheed Adekanmbi, Price Diran Odeyemi, Chief Soji Adagunodo, Chief Bisi Ilaka, Alhaja Bosede Adedibu and others.
Packaged by Ojo Peter
