Dr. Temitope Afolabi, an aspirant for the Ona-Ara State Constituency seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly, has expressed deep dissatisfaction over the just concluded consensus primary exercise recently conducted in Ona-Ara Local Government.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Dr. Afolabi described the exercise as one marred by injustice, imbalance in the process, contrary to the spirit of fairness and inclusiveness that should guide internal party democracy.
According to him, while the consensus arrangement was introduced in line with the directive of Governor Seyi Makinde to promote unity and reduce rancour within the party, the manner in which the exercise was conducted failed to reflect the principles of equity, transparency, and consultation that members and aspirants expected.
Dr. Afolabi noted that the process appeared heavily tilted in favour of a preferred candidate, leaving other qualified aspirants and their supporters unfairly sidelined.
“What transpired in Ona-Ara cannot be described as a true consensus. Consensus should be built on consultation, mutual agreement, and justice, not imposition, bias, and selective consideration,” he stated.
He further lamented that several stakeholders, party faithful, and grassroots supporters who had invested their trust in a credible process were disappointed by what he termed a deeply flawed and compromised exercise.
Dr. Afolabi stressed that his decision to speak out was borne out of a commitment to protecting democratic values within the party and ensuring that the voices of the people of Ona-Ara are not suppressed.
He called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State to urgently review the outcome of the exercise and address the grievances arising from the process in the interest of justice, unity, and the future of the party in Ona-Ara.
Dr. Afolabi, however, took time to commend the sterling leadership of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, for his remarkable developmental projects across Oyo State, describing the governor as a visionary leader whose resilience, commitment to good governance, and unwavering dedication to the growth of the Peoples Democratic Party have continued to earn him the admiration of the people. He noted that Governor Makinde’s numerous infrastructural interventions, people-oriented policies, and consistent efforts in strengthening party unity remain commendable and worthy of support, stressing that his concerns over the Ona-Ara exercise should not in any way be misconstrued as a lack of confidence in the governor’s leadership.
While reaffirming his loyalty to the party and respect for Governor Makinde’s leadership, Dr. Afolabi maintained that no political process can thrive where fairness is sacrificed for favoritism.
He also appealed to his supporters to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding, assuring them that every legitimate democratic avenue would be explored to seek redress.
