One of the leaders of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has tackled his acting successor, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, for asserting that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, won the February 25 presidential election.
He described as illegal any decision outside the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Adebanjo and Fasoranti had political disagreement in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election with the former declaring support for the LP’s Obi while the latter backed Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
Meanwhile, following INEC’s announcement of Tinubu as the President-elect, Adebanjo, had in a Communique issued after Afenifere’s monthly General Meeting held at his country home in Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, alleged uncouth activities and unauthorised statements in its name and the constant denigration of the organisation by Ajayi and Abagun, including asserting that Obi won the presidential poll.
However, Fasoranti insisted that the organisation and indeed, the whole world acknowledged that Nigeria now has a President-elect in the person of Bola Tinubu, describing him as a true Yoruba son and national.
He also faulted the alleged suspension of the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi and the National Organising Secretary of the organisation, Abagun Kole Omololu, over their position on a recent comment by a chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, saying the suspension was null and void.
The frontline educator and Second Republic Commissioner for Finance in Ondo State, in a statement, on Friday, wondered why the two were pronounced guilty and consequently sanctioned even before their appearance before a disciplinary committee.
The statement titled, ‘Afenifere is law-abiding organisation’ read, “My attention has been drawn to the Communique purportedly issued after a meeting that was held on Tuesday, March 27, at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State. This statement is being issued because of the content of the said document.
“Section 2.02 of the document claims that ‘the results of the lawful votes at the presidential election available to the Afenifere through credible sources confirm that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, won the said election.’
“Afenifere could not have asserted that someone, other than the person declared by the body duly authorised by the Constitution and other extant laws of the land, is the winner of the presidential election held on February 25, 2023 in Nigeria.
“The body mandated to conduct elections in Nigeria, INEC, after the completion of this year’s presidential election on February 25, has declared the candidate of the APC, Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the winner of the said election.
“Our National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, issued a congratulatory message to the President-elect after he had been issued a Certificate of Return by INEC.
He said this was cited as an “uncouth activity” by the communique mentioned above which further stated that Abagun and Ajayi were “suspended sine die” pending further decisions after their appearance before, and recommendations by the Disciplinary Committee’.
“Meaning that the two were pronounced guilty and consequently sanctioned even before their appearance before a Disciplinary Committee,” he said.
Fasoranti further stated that Adebanjo’s claim that Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, won the February 25 election and thus, support his decision challenging the contrary declaration by the INEC was alien to Afenifere, which did not conduct itself as an agent of the state let alone as an electoral umpire.
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