By Charles  Kumolu

ORIADE Progressive Group has called on the National Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to look into the issue of alleged imposition of a chairmanship candidate on the party, noting that the person recognized as APC flag bearer in Oriade Local Development Council Area, LCDA, is not the choice of the people.

The group alleged that Mrs. Ramatalai Hassan was made the chairmanship candidate at the APC primaries without the consent of party members, noting that her choice is breeding controversy in the LCDA. The group of aggrieved party faithful also claimed that the pattern of imposition had been the same in 2011 and 2015.

In a chat with Vanguard, spokesperson of the group, Mr. Bello Isiaka said if the crisis was not addressed, the party may lose the election to another party in the LCDA.

Tinubu

He said: “Before the primaries, we were told that candidates would emerge through a democratic process, but that did not happen. At the venue of the primaries, the list of chairmanship candidates of various local government areas was called alphabetically. Given the commotion that ensued because of the imposition of candidates who were being called, the person calling the names stopped and the exercise ended. As of then, Senator Afikuyomi, who was calling the names, had not gotten to our turn, so we were surprised that someone was imposed on us.”

The party leadership has, however, debunked the claim saying that a number of candidates emerged based on their loyalty and upon the consensus of party elders. Hassan could not be reached at press time.