2019: ADC NWC declares Lanlehin as guber candidate in Oyo

THE National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), on Thursday, declared Senator Olufemi Lanlehin as the governorship candidate of the party in Oyo State.

A statement signed by the party’s national publicity secretary, Mrs Yemi Kolapo, said the chairman, Screening and Primary Committee, Peter Oyewole, a lawyer, who announced the governorship candidate, said Lanlehin emerged the winner after “a keenly contested primary involving 13 aspirants.”

Oyewole, who said the keenly contested election involved many qualified aspirants that other parties could not boast of, linked the earlier discordant tunes within the party over the choice of a guber candidate to the popularity of ADC as the party to beat in the 2019 governorship election in the State.

He called on the people of the State to support ADC to “rescue the State from the dictatorial and anti-people leadership style of the ruling party, which has plunged the state into socio-economic crisis.”

The statement added that the national chairman of the party, Chief Ralphs Nwosu, expressed satisfaction that the party produced a strong candidate in Lanlehin, pointing out that all leaders and members of the party in the state and national level were united on the choice.

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Nwosu said the party’s decision was not influenced by vote or delegate buying in line with the teaching of its Coalition for Electoral Integrity launched to help right the wrongs in the country’s electoral environment.

“I call on great members of our great party to support our governorship candidate in the interest of the party and the people of the state. Ours is a very vibrant party as shown by the intense activities surrounding the primary in the state. We are one and will work with one voice to win the election in 2019.” He said.

Speaking on his declaration, Lanlehin, who was in the Senate between 2011 and 2015, promised the people of the State that if elected, he would run a people-oriented government that would make their welfare a priority.

“I will run an inclusive government and execute projects that will impact on the lives of the people and make the state a pace-setter again,” he said.

Lanlehin thanked party members and leaders for believing in him and pleaded for teamwork and full support “as the party prepares for victory in the next governorship election.”