>
A former Commissioner for Education in Oyo state, Dr. Nureni Adeniran on Tuesday emerged as the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state. He was chosen after an exercise conducted among the 13 aspirants in the party.
Recall that the National Working on Monday took a definite decision to settle the lingering crisis over who flies the party’s flag in the 2019 governorship election in the state. Lanlehin’s initial choice had threatened to tear the party apart with court cases, in-fighting and looming defections.
The aspirants had accused the state party leaders which include former governor Rashidi Ladoja and Chief Michael Koleoso of injustice and imposition.
The 12 aggrieved aspirants had earlier approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the nullification of Lanlehin’s candidature as illegal arguing that his emergence was unknown to the party’s constitution.
The party, in a bid to settle the crisis, asked the 13 aspirants to conduct a consensus by election among themselves to present a candidate of their choice before Wednesday.
A source told Newspeakonline that the NWC of the party had warned the aspirants that their decision and choice of candidate may not be binding if the disagreements lingered. The implication of that warning is that Lanlehin’s candidacy was still active.
It was gathered that the process conducted on Tuesday was a secret ballot system in which every aspirant voted for himself and then voted for someone else. The aspirant with the highest number of votes emerged winner.
A source privy to the process said Adeniran, considered an underdog in the race, surprisingly, polled five votes.
The governorship aspirants who took part in the process include:
Senator Olufemi Lanlehin
Barrister Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli
Hon. Festus Wale Adegoke
Dr. Nureni Adeniran
Mr. Ayodele Adigun
Dr. Yunus Akintunde
Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja
Senator Gbenga Babalola
Dr. Mohammed Kola Balogun
Engineer Aderemi Olaniyan
Otunba Oluseye Opatoki
Engineer Aderemi Oseni
Barrister Ayanlowo Obisesan
Adeniran’s choice will however need to get the ratification of the National Working Committee of the party.
Adeniran was a former councillor, local government chairman and Commissioner for Education. He is a lawyer, politician and academic.