The governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Olaniyi Olaigbe, has dismissed rumours making the rounds that he has stepped down in favour of another candidate of the party in Oyo State.
Olaigbe, in a statement by his public relations officer, Akinwale Oluseyi, insisted that he remains the candidate of the party until the court rules otherwise.
He said, “I have neither stepped down nor withdrawn from the gubernatorial contest, surrendered my mandate, nor agreed to the candidature of Comrade Titilola Sodo.
“Olaigbe submitted that the publication of the name of a particular candidate does not erase the fact that there is a pending case on the matter before the court.
“The appearance of a name on an electoral publication does not by itself extinguish a pending legal dispute over the authentic leadership of the party and the process that produced that candidature.
“It is therefore premature for anyone to suggest, directly or indirectly, that the internal contest has been concluded or that every other contender must now simply rally behind the published name.
“If unity is truly our objective, then all sides should have the confidence to allow due process to run its course and embrace one another, not even the state chairman who can’t produce two-thirds of state honourables to contest.
“We should not turn a pending judicial question into a settled political conclusion.
“The matter concerning the legitimate AA national leadership is before the competent court, and we remain confident that the judicial process will determine the rightful outcome.
“It is therefore important that no one create the impression that the matter has been politically resolved when, in fact, the dispute remains before the court.
“Calling for reconciliation is commendable. However, reconciliation must not be presented in a manner that suggests that one of the parties to an ongoing legal dispute has already conceded.
“Unity must be built on truth, due process and respect for the rule of law.”
