Chief Adebayo Adelabu popularly known as ‘penkelemes’ has been affirmed officially as Governorship candidate of Accord party in Oyo state ahesd of the coming general elections.
Adelabu was affirmed as replacement for Ayodele Oyajide who was formerly the candidate of the party after completing the substitution of candidate process as required by the constitution in the amended Electoral Act.
The candidate affirmation event which held today August 3 at the Obafemi Awolowo stadium (formerly Liberty stadium) was witnessed by the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Muhammed Nalado and the party’s National Secretary, Honourable Olubukola Ajaja.
Others who witnessed the event include officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Adelabu, who was governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 election had on June 2 announced his defection to the Accord party, where he said he would pursue his governorship ambition.
Adelabu’s defection came after he declared the APC governorship primary held on May 27 where Senator Teslim Folarin won and was declared candidate of the APC, as a charade.
However, uncertainty has reigned on whether or not Adelabu had secured the governorship candidature of the Accord party with Mr Saheed Ajadi consistently claiming to be the governorship candidate of the party.
However, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oyo State, Mr Mutiu Agboke, whose term of office ended recently had during one of his interactions with journalists hinted that the Accord Party had informed the commission of plans to conduct fresh processes towards the emergence of its candidates.
At the candidate affirmation event held today at the Obafemi Awolowo stadium, it was gathered that Ayodele Oyajide who has now been replaced by Adebayo Adelabu was the candidate of the Accord party for the 2023 governorship election having duly purchased the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms.
The Accord party Senatorial candidate for Oyo North, Honourable Shina Pella, candidate for Oyo South Senatorial district; Kolapo Kola-Daisi and other candidates for both state and national assembly were at the event.
More details shortly…..