Akande's faction holds convention next month
By Fred Okoror (Lagos) and
Iyabo Sotunde (Ibadan)
THE leadership crisis rocking the Alliance for Democracy (AD) notwithstanding, the Independent National Electoral Commission has ruled out any plan to de-register the party.
INEC's director of publicity, Mr. Steve Osemeke told The Guardian yesterday that there was no truth in reports that the commission would de-list the AD.
And after a meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday, the Chief Bisi Akande-led faction resolved to hold a new national convention in Abuja next month.
Osemeke said that before a party could be de-registered, due process must be followed. None of the conditions for de-listing a party has been considered by INEC in respect of the AD saga, he said.
Following the new development in the face-off between the two factional leaders, Chief Bisi Akande and Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, some AD members have reportedly appealed to INEC to extend the October deadline to allow a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
The attempt to get the deadline extended, The Guardian learnt, was aimed at giving room to Afenifere leaders to make the last effort to settle the feud. Some leaders of Afenifere at a meeting in Akure, Ondo State last week purportedly endorsed Akinfenwa as leader of the party.
But Akande, chairman of a rival group in the party, rejected the development, stressing that the party's national convention held in Lagos, where he emerged as National Chairman was "properly organised and recognised by INEC."
A source, however, said that the attempt to obtain an extension from INEC, came against the backdrop of speculations that the electoral body had concluded arrangements to de-register the AD.
On whether INEC would extend the October 31, 2004 deadline given the party to resolve its crisis, Osemeke said that the commission had not revisited the option. He did not also confirmed whether the party has formally applied for extension of the deadline.
"Nobody is thinking of de-registering AD yet. There is ample time between now and October 31. We are hopeful that AD will be able to resolve its crises before the expiration of the deadline. The reports that the commission was thinking of de-registering the party are mere speculations," Osemeke said.
The INEC scribe added: "Though nobody is happy the way the crisis is persisting, INEC will not do anything that would be considered unconstitutional in a bid to resolve the feud. We are aware that some stakeholders in the party look up to us for the final settlement. We will continue to give the warring factions enough time to resolve their differences, because our role is that of a referee."
The Ibadan meeting asked the leadership of Afenifere to steer clear of AD affairs. It urged the group to restrict itself to the objective for which it was established.
The forum was attended by a former governor of the state, Alhaji Lam Adesina; former governor Akande; his deputy, Sooko Adeowoyin; AD National Vice Chairman Alhaji Tunji Hamzat; as well as the state party chairmen from the five South-West states.
They are George Akosile, (Ekiti), Moshood Adeoti (Osun), Tajudeen Ola-Bello (Ogun) Samuel Farinu (Oyo) and Bashorun Oyewole (Ondo).
The meeting condemned the divisive posture of Afenifere, declaring that it was out to kill the AD.
Also present at the meeting were representatives of the Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, as well as former governors Adeniyi Adebayo of Ekiti and Olusegun Osoba of Ogun State.
Others were Chief Aro Lambo of Lagos State and former secretary to the Ogun State government Mr. Poju Adeyemi.
In a statement he read to reporters, Adesina said that Afenifere wanted to play the role of the dog in the manager.
"It is not recognised by the constitution, only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is duly recognised has declared the two conventions by the party as illegal, what status have they got to recognise Akinfenwa
