Oyo State ADC Governorship Aspirant Gbemileke Alagbe has said his camp is not against the party, insisting that reconciliation over the disputed governorship ticket must be based on justice, fairness and equity.
Speaking during an interview on Friday, Alagbe said the party’s May 22 primary produced a winner and that the choice of its members should be respected, while rejecting any attempt to impose another candidate on the party in Oyo State.
“The ground for reconciliation is justice. And it’s fairness. And it’s equity. You can’t come and want to produce your way into a room that is not yours.”
Alagbe said those challenging the outcome of the primary must first accept that they did not win the election before reconciliation can take place. “And the vote is not the winner. You need to recognise the fact that you didn’t win that election.”
He said the party’s members had made their choice and that their decision should be respected. “The party members have decided. And the wish of the party members have to be obeyed and respected.”
Alagbe rejected claims that his camp was creating a faction within the ADC, saying his position was aimed at protecting the party and its electoral process. “We are not against ADC, for ADC and for Atiku Abubakar. We are not creating a faction within the party. They are the ones trying to create a faction within your state. Against a judgment of the competent courts.”
He said the dispute should not prevent his camp from campaigning ahead of the 2027 governorship election, expressing confidence that the courts would eventually settle the matter. “And we are sure of winning the election. Once we receive the president’s judgment. It doesn’t matter that it’s a crisis.”
Alagbe said his camp had already started its campaign and would continue despite the dispute over the party’s ticket. “We have flagged up our campaign. And we shall proceed to it.”
He said his camp was relying on the courts and cited the case of a former governor whose emergence, according to him, was eventually upheld after a legal battle. “And remember this man. Mbuchi Miamichi. He was not even the one initially that was announced as the winner. But eventually the court vindicated him. And he became the governor.”
Alagbe said the party’s internal dispute should not be allowed to override court decisions concerning its structure in Oyo State. “Personally we are not against David Mark leadership. Or Aregbesola leadership. But in our state there has been a judgment affirming a faction. And that faction we conducted the primaries. In line with the constitution of the party. And we won.”
He called on the party leadership to comply with the court decisions while the legal process continues. “Now we expect the party to please obey the judgment of the courts.”
Alagbe also challenged the validity of any primary conducted in breach of a court judgment. “If you are conducting the primary in contravention of the decision of the courts. To me that primary cannot stand. There’s no court of law that will validate.”
He said his camp had evidence showing that its primary was held on May 22 and that officials were present during the exercise. “It shows that our primary was conducted on the 22nd of May. And the NDSS was there. And I was publicly announced by the committee that was supposed to conduct the primaries.”
Alagbe said the exercise was conducted in line with electoral law and the party’s rules. “In line with our primary. In line with the electoral acts. And in line with our party guidelines.”
He contrasted that with what he described as the rival primary held the following day, saying it lacked the officials and party setting he said were present at his own exercise. “There was no video per se. Because there was only a picture of one of his eight. Arebe Sola eight. In his own sitting room. Raising up his hand. No ADC background. No INEC. No DSS. That was on the 23rd.”
Alagbe said that beyond the party dispute, his proposed administration would focus on prosperity, human capital development, security and infrastructure. “My programs are based on four fundamental principles. The first one is prosperity for all.”
He said his administration would stop house demolitions, strengthen local governments and create jobs for young people. “We need to stop demolition of houses. We need to allow local government to function. We need to ensure that we create jobs for the youth.”
Alagbe said agriculture would be treated as a major part of Oyo’s economy, with government supporting farmers to process their produce before export. “We need to ensure that agriculture as a mainstream of our economy is well supported by the government. And when we get to government. We are going to make sure we have a great board.”
He said the proposed agricultural structure would help farmers move beyond primary production and create more value from their output. “That is going to make sure that farmers produce. And process it to semi-finished goods and export it.”
Alagbe identified unemployment and teenage pregnancy among the major challenges facing Oyo State and said his administration would seek to attract industries into the state. “One of the major main problems for Oyo State. Is this issue of unemployment and teenage pregnancy.”
He said an industrial corridor would be developed to attract businesses and create employment. “Now, we are going to tackle that by making sure we invite industries into the state. But within the corridor, for instance. We are going to ensure that we have what they call the industrial core.”
“And we are going to ensure that there is an industrial corridor. So that we are able to create employment.”
On security, Alagbe said Oyo’s large ungoverned spaces posed a challenge and proposed technology-driven surveillance to monitor forests and improve intelligence.
“And another thing is the issue of insecurity. You can’t tackle the problem of unemployment. You can’t tackle the insecurity in Oyo State. Because Oyo State has a lot of ungoverned spaces.”
He proposed drones and other technology to monitor the areas and provide security agencies with intelligence. “So we believe in drones and other technology. To go from those ungoverned spaces. And to give the government intelligence.”
Alagbe also proposed improved transport links between farming communities and Ibadan to support the movement of agricultural goods. “We need to connect Oyo State. Because there is no connection between the mainstream of the economy and the capital of the states.”
He said a light rail network linking Ogbomoso, Ibarapa and Ibadan would help farmers move their produce to the state capital for processing and export. “We need to make sure that we have a light train between Ogbomosho to Ibarapa to Ibadan. So that most of these farmers, they will be able to move their goods to Ibadan for processing and for export.”