LAGOS—ALL appears set for today’s national convention of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, as the party hosts what its describes as a unifying national convention in Lagos even as speculations are rife that two former governors on the platform of the party, Bisi Akande of Osun State and Lamidi Adeshina of Oyo State may square up for the chairmanship position of the party. The convention is expected to kick off at 10 a.m with the accreditation of delegates from all parts of the country and voting would be by open ballot.
Although the Independent national Electoral Commission, INEC, slammed a November deadline for a unification of the Bisi Akande and Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa factions of the party, the Bisi Akande faction yesterday in Lagos indicated that the fresh convention slated for Lagos this morning would go on as scheduled.
Vanguard also learnt that Chief Michael Koleoso, the acting chairman of the party pre-factionalisation wrote to INEC to inform it of the convention.
INEC reportedly acknowledged receipt of the letter and wrote back re-affirming its position that the two factions should work out a unification agenda before the deadline expires. Today’s convention, information available to Vanguard suggests, is a first step pursuant to unifying the factions of the party. It was also learnt that whereas majority of members of the two factions are willing to sheath their sword, there are those who would rather have the factionalisation continue because of other interests.
Speaking to Vanguard on telephone, the former governor indicated that the whole party was fully united in bringing the party back to life through the new convention.
Chief Akande who was governor of Osun State between 1999 and 2003 denied speculation that he might have stepped down for Alhaji Lam Adesina, former governor of Oyo State. His words: “He is welcome to contest. Who is afraid of a contest? Don’t you know that election is the main attribute of politics. Alhaji Adesina is my friend and he has a right to contest. I don’t know if he is contesting but it is his right and it would not in any way affect our relationship if he chooses to contest.”
However, informed sources told Vanguard that meetings were still holding yesterday with the National Convention Committee still handing out nomination forms. An informed source indicated that a member of the House of Representatives, Professor Sola Adeyeye who hails from the same local government with Chief Akande had already obtained the form. It has been suggested that the arrangement is merely to give the impression that there is a real contest whereas the inner caucus of the party had decided that Chief Akande be returned to the office.
The National Director of Publicity, Planning and Strategy, Prince Dayo Adeyeye said the convention was being put together by the NCC to beat the deadline by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He said INEC had promised to send a team of observers to watch proceedings at Onikan Stadium, venue of the convention.
His words: “There is really no problem. Everything is set now. I can confirm to you that the suggestion that INEC had dissociated itself from the arrangement is false. Look, we are doing this at the suggestion of INEC itself which met with the leaders and indicated that it would be prepared to recognise a convention called by a unified NCC at the instance of Chief (Michael) Koleosho. That is where we are. All members of the NCC are together in this, there is no dissent. All those who were absent from the previous convention in Lagos are back in the fold because they know the implication of not complying. All the 36 state chairmen are also behind this move. So, this is not a factional move. I can assure you that tomorrow, there would be a massive turn out from all states of the federation.”
Prince Adeyeye suggested that the Akinfenwa faction had been kicking against the convention because it saw the handwriting on the wall and felt that defeat was imminent. “That is why they have been hiding behind a faction of Afenifere on this".
Even at that, majority of Afenifere members are behind this effort to save the party. Don’t forget that we are all members of the group,” Adeyeye said.
It would be recalled that two factions of the party emerged following two different conventions held in Lagos and Abuja last year. One faction, with Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State as the prime mover held its meting in Lagos and produced Chief Akande as National Chairman while another, presided over by former chairman of the party, Alhaji Ahmed Abdulkadir produced Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa as national Chairman. Since then, both parties have run along parallel lines.
Last month’s decision by a faction of Afenifere to throw its weight behind the Akinfenwa faction heated up passion within the party and has thrown up question over whether whatever is the outcome of today’s convention would resolve the crisis that has engulfed the party.
Impeccable sources indicate that leaders of Afenifere went into a long meeting yesterday with a view to averting the impending doom.
Among those expected at the convention as a sign of solidarity are: Chief Anthony Enahoro of the Movement for National Reformation, MNR, and lately, Nigeria United for Democracy, NUD; Alhaji Balarabe Musa of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP and Conference of Nigerian Polity Parties, CNPP; Chief Chekwas Okorie of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA; Arthur Nwankwo of the Peoples Mandate Party, PMP; Ralph Obiora of the Justice Party, JP; and Maxi Okwu, secretary of the CNPP.
