Former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao Akala may be in a dilemma over which of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to align with in the forthcoming governorship election as series of meetings with leaders of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) held on the subject matter, today, Thursday turned out inconclusive.
At the two meetings, held at various times at his Ibadan residence, first with the party’s House of Assembly candidates and second with ADP leaders like Temitoye Olatoye, Kamil Akinlabi, Alao Akala had brought up the ingredients of the alliance requests of the APC and conglomerate of PDP, African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
In their quest to get Ogbomoso bloc votes, both the APC and PDP led opposition have in series of meetings since last week, assured Alao Akala of a huge stake in their government, with Alao Akala stating that he had to meet his party leaders to decide whose bid was highest before making his decision known.
Candidates of the ADP, had at the meeting, been told that the alliance was for the governorship contest and that their ambition for the House of Assembly seats on the ADP platform could be boosted by the alliance.
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Asked if a decision on which governorship candidate to support had been taken, Alao Akala in a conversation with Tribune Online, said, “No consensus yet on alignment. I do not know when a consensus will be reached.”
Alao Akala had on Monday flown to Abuja to attend to a meeting called for by National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu on the possibility of getting Alao Akala’s support so as to boost the chances of the APC in next Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
In the same vein, Alao Akala had on Wednesday met with leaders of the PDP, ADC, ZLP at residence of former governor Rashidi Ladoja on the need to support governorship candidate of the PDP, Seyi Makinde, who is said to be the choices of the masses of the state and performed well in last Saturday’s National Assembly election.
While a consensus is expected to be reached in the next round of meetings, some members of the ADP, various conversations with Tribune Online, fear that Alao Akala may buy into an alliance with the APC.
Positions among followers of the ADP range from arguments that an alignment with the APC amount to Alao Akala going back to his own vomit to that the party should align with the PDP which they say offer the brightest chance to oust the APC in the state.
Those who support alignment with the PDP further argue that its guber candidate, Seyi Makinde commands masses’ appeal above that of the APC, Adebayo Adelabu, while those who support alignment with the APC hold that they have a lot to benefit because the APC is the party at the centre.
The series of meetings with leaders of the ADP, the PDP and other opposition parties are expected to continue tomorrow, Friday.
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