A former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, has directed his supporters to stay away from the All Progressives Congress governorship primary billed for Sunday.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Ibadan by Jeremiah Akande, the Head of New Media and Public Affairs, of Alao-Akala Campaign Organisation.
The statement, which described the scheduled primary as a sham, said the former governor would boycott the exercise.
Alao-Akala is a governorship aspirant in the state.
The statement quoted Alao-Akala as calling on the national leadership of the APC to save the Oyo Chapter from collapse.
“I am calling on the national leadership of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party to come to the aid of the Oyo APC which is on the brink of collapse.
“This is due to the high-handedness and imposition of candidates on delegates who will vote at the primary election of the party taking place tomorrow by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi,” the statement quoted Alao-Akala as saying.
Alao-Akala alleged that Ajimobi had perfected plans to impose an aspirant, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, on delegates.
He also alleged that the governor had sent his supporters to coerce and intimidate delegates to vote for Tegbe tomorrow at the party’s primary against their free will.
“I am a true party man and a committed loyalist of any cause I believe in. I wish to state categorically that I am not a pushover in the game of politics.
“I am a well grounded and groomed politician who has occupied the number one seat of Oyo State, a politically-conscious state.
“I will not be part of any move or attempt to subvert the true will and wish of the people by the selfish interest of an individual,’’ he said.