Barrister Kunle Adegoke, one of the governorship aspirants under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Osun state has said is either the court orders the cancellation of the recently held direct primary or he dumps the party.
Adegoke who dragged the party to court on the allegations that the primary was manipulated for the winner, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola said it was not easy purchasing nomination form of N8million, therefore, he might dump APC for another platform to enable him to realise his aspiration.
Insisting that the July 19 exercise was neither free nor fair, Adegoke while addressing a news conference in Lagos, noted that only a court decision could stop him from seeking redress on the outcome of the primary.
He said, “I will be bound by court decisions on the issue, but if I feel that justice was not done by the result being cancelled, I may leave the party to seek another platform for my aspiration,” he said.
Adegoke noted that the direct primary option adopted by the leadership of APC gave room for manipulations.
According to him, “I do not have problems with the direct primary option because it is recognised in our constitution. My problem is that the decision not only came late, there was also no verifiable register for members of the party in Osun State.
“There is no ascertained APC party members/strength in Osun State. The party membership registration has never been updated since 2014.
“The tradition has been indirect votes by delegates, which we were all working with until two days to the primaries where we had no time to verify the register.
“The APC constitution which I also participated in drawing has rules on the adoption of direct method of voting in primaries.
“The rules are that the membership register must be verified by aspirants way ahead and must be updated before primaries.’’
Adegoke said that he had tried to reach out to the party’s structure, based on laid down rules for petitions within the party but was not successful.
“At the Osogbo office of the APC there was no committee in place to accept my petition and Omo-Agege, who led the primaries election committee for Osun State has not responded to my calls.
“I am a founding member of the APC right from the days of the Alliance for Democracy. I am desirous of remaining a member of the APC.
“I have handled over 50 pro-bono cases for the party nationwide. I love my party but I want justice to be done. Purchasing a nomination form for N8m is not easy for me but I did that.
“All I want is fairness in the process and I will pursue the matter to the highest court of the land if it has to be so.”
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