The Action Alliance (AA) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Comrade Sikiru Bayo Titilola-Sodo, has appealed to party members and supporters across the state’s 33 local government areas to remain calm and peaceful following the omission of his name and those of some other party candidates from the final list of governorship candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Saturday.
Titilola-Sodo made the appeal in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Monday, urging party faithful and residents of Oyo State not to allow the development to distract them from their ongoing mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said the party had taken steps to address the situation, disclosing that its legal team had submitted a formal complaint to INEC over the omission of some of its candidates, with a view to securing the necessary corrections without further delay.
The AA governorship candidate also disclosed that the party’s National Chairman and presidential candidate, Aare Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje, had urged affected candidates and party members across the country not to panic over the development.
According to Titilola-Sodo, the national leadership remains committed to pursuing the matter through the appropriate channels to ensure that the interests of duly nominated candidates are protected.
He further maintained that the Action Alliance had complied with all requirements and deadlines stipulated by the electoral umpire, expressing confidence that the matter would be resolved appropriately.
The Oyo State governorship hopeful also expressed appreciation to Egbe Ajosepo Fun Itesiwaju Gbogbo Wa, a non-partisan movement in Oke-Ogun, under the chairmanship of Engr. Dauda Alade Olaifa, for adopting him as its preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
“Let me express my profound gratitude to Egbe Ajosepo Fun Itesiwaju Gbogbo Wa, a non-partisan movement in Oke-Ogun, under the chairmanship of Engr. Dauda Alade Olaifa, for the confidence reposed in me through my adoption as its preferred governorship candidate for the 2027 general election.
“I deeply appreciate the movement’s continued support, solidarity and commitment. As we await the outcome of the petition submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the omission of my name from the published list of governorship candidates, I remain hopeful that the matter will be resolved appropriately,” he said.
He assured his supporters that the party’s national leadership would explore all available administrative and legal avenues to protect the interests of its duly nominated candidates.
Titilola-Sodo also reaffirmed the Action Alliance’s commitment to the rule of law, due process and the conduct of credible elections, urging members to remain focused on their political activities while awaiting INEC’s response to the complaint.
However, the AA candidate took a swipe at those he accused of prematurely celebrating the omission of his name and those of other party candidates from the published list.
“Those prematurely jubilating as a result of the omission by INEC should be reminded that an illiterate without any verifiable tertiary education and work experience, not to talk of a coherent manifesto, has never governed Oyo State, right from the military era, through past civilian governors till date.
“The enlightened people of Oyo State will never lower the banner. It is the reason we are called the ‘Pacesetter State,’” the statement concluded.
