Political tensions have escalated in Oka-Akoko Ward 8 Akoko south west local government following the rejection of a councilorship candidate imposed by Hon. Olugbenga Omole, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation. The decision to field Hellen Omoare as against Kolawole Okoli who was unanimously agreed upon as a concensus candidate by the joint meeting of Leaders/Ward Exco Members has sparked widespread protest. This culminated in a large-scale protest that saw party faithful and leaders of the party in oka-akoko ward 8 march to the Governor’s office in Akure, demanding that the democratic process be respected.
The controversy began when Hon. Omole, in coordination with some state party leaders, attempted to impose a councilorship candidate against the wish of the party members and the leaders despite that Hon Olugbenga Omole isn’t from the ward. The move was met with fierce resistance, as ward members had already unanimously voted for Hon. Kolawoke Okoli to represent them in the upcoming local government elections. Okoli, a long-standing figure in the community with deep ties to the ward, had been chosen by a consensus during a well-attended APC ward 8 congress which culminated into a communique signed by 18 leaders and 22 ward excos,sent to both the Governor and the APC state chairman, which made the imposition of an unpopular candidate highly contentious.
On friday, aggrieved party members and leaders of the ward took to the Governors office in Alagbaka, Akure in a peaceful protest, Carrying placards that read: “We Stand for Okoli,” “We Say No to Imposition Of Councilorship Candidate,” and “APC ASWLG Oka 1 Says Let Our Choice Remain Valid.” The protesters demanded that the Governor intervene and ensure that the will of the people in Ward 8 is respected.
At the Governor’s office, the protestors submitted a petition calling for the reversal of the decision and the endorsement of Hon. Okoli as the official party candidate for the councilorship election. Several key leaders of the protest, including Chief Joseph Aade the former chairmain iwaro community, addressed the press, reaffirming their commitment to supporting Okoli, whom he described as the “true representative” of the ward.
“We will not accept the imposition of a candidate who does not belong to us,” said Hon. Gbenga Jombo the vice chairman of the ward. “The people have spoken, and Kolawoke Okoli is our choice. We demand that the Governor and party leadership respect our decision and allow democracy to prevail.”
The protest has added further pressure on Hon. Olugbenga Omole and the state party leadership, raising questions about their commitment to upholding democratic processes within the party. Supporters of Okoli argue that the imposition of who was never for once in the race would alienate the electorate and could cost the party crucial votes in the upcoming election.
As it stands, Oka Akoko Ward 8 remains firmly behind Hon. Okoli, with ward leaders and party members making it clear that they will not accept any candidate who does not have the support of the community. The outcome of this standoff will likely play a significant role in shaping the political landscape in Oka Akoko and may have far-reaching implications for the party’s prospects in the upcoming councilorship elections.
Peoplesmind
