27/08/2026
THESE LOCUSTS HAVE MANIFESTLY INFESTED THE FIELD THAT ONCE POSSESSED PROSPECTS - OYO STATE ADC IN FOCUS.
Locusts do not pose a direct physical threat to humans. They do not bite or sting people, and they do not carry human diseases. However, massive swarms can cause severe indirect harm by destroying crops, which leads to food shortages and famine.
Between May and October of 2025, the ranks of the Oyo State ADC experienced significant growth with the integration of new members from diverse political parties.
The agricultural landscape of ADC Oyo State is transforming into lush green vegetation, fostering the growth of valuable crops with promising prospects for substantial harvests in 2027.
The host gardeners recognized proficient farmers among the new entrants and incorporated them into the ranking system alongside the established gardeners.
The newly established group of gardeners, led by Alhaji Yinka Olona and his executive committee members, commenced the cultivation of ADC crops across the fourteen delineated farmlands, corresponding to the federal constituencies in Oyo State.
Additionally, efforts were made to promote ADC within the three Senatorial district distinct confine- through Senatorial unveiling of ADC
The gardening team, along with their associates, eagerly anticipated the harvest season, expecting to yield one legitimate gubernatorial candidate, three legitimate senatorial candidates, fourteen legitimate candidates for federal constituencies, and thirty-two candidates for state assembly constituencies.
During the initial three months of 2026, the ADC in Oyo State observed a notable increase in its membership, with numerous prospective partners expressing interest in joining the party. However, it became evident that this influx included individuals whose nature can be likened to locusts, they, since the day of their entry, have been serious threat to the stability of the ADC in Oyo State.
Consequently, these partners engaged in the recruitment of individuals into an unauthorized structure (Omoluabi Progressive), thereby facilitating erosion of the party' s strength and capacity. This specifically undermines the unity and cohesion of the party in Oyo State- which is essential for meeting expected outcomes.
The "afomo", "mistletoe" (Omoluabi Progressive)
has even wrecked serious havoc to the coalition structure in Oyo State- before the locusts ruthlessly stripped Oyo State ADC farm field naked
These parasitic or epiphytic plants had attached themselves and grew on the branches (LGA) of the host plants to frustrate producing strong and credible candidates in Oyo State ADC.
Since the existence of the afomo (Omoluabi Progressive) in Oyo State ADC, the party has been witnessing serious existential abnormality in this order;
1. The establishment of an illegal structure, whose operations hold no legal standing- this is in direct violation of the constitutional order and the valid judgment issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. And the burden of non-recognition is overwhelming weigh heavily on them- nevertheless, they continue to operate in a painted shop as a form of political appeasement, in contempt of the several court's judgments.
2. Unresolved Governorship Primary Elections, which produces three (3) Governorship candidates as against one Governorship candidate as allowed by all standards.
3. Oyo State State has 50 elective positions to be contested for by various political parties (1 guber candidate; 3 Senatorial candidates; 14 Federal Rep candidates; and 32 State Assembly candidates). As it stands only 25 legitimate candidates emerged from legitimate primary Elections monitored by INEC- whose primary Elections results have been certified by INEC and the CTC have been received by Alhaji Yinka Olona led Oyo State ADC.
4. It is the height of abnormality for the individuals who did not participate in the INEC monitored primary Elections to begin parading themselves as party candidates- they went to the extent of producing posters, airing radio jingles and flying bill board campaigns.
For avoidance of doubt the electoral acts 2026 are sacrosanct, and these key points must be noted for information and directions.
1. A political party cannot submit its final list of candidates through a physical letter.Under modern electoral regulations, electoral commissions like Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) mandate that all political parties submit and upload their candidate lists exclusively through a dedicated online nomination portal.
2. Rules for Candidate Submission
i. Mandatory Portal Upload: Physical paper letters are no longer accepted for candidate submissions. Parties are issued unique access codes to log into an official digital portal.
ii.Required Digital Forms: Instead of a written letter, parties must digitally upload legally required forms for each candidate, such as Form EC9 (for candidates) and Form EC9B (for running mates).
iii. Strict Timelines: The portal automatically closes at the designated deadline. No late digital uploads or physical letters can bypass this automated cutoff.
iv. Digital Membership Registers:
Section 77(2)â (7) of the 2026 Electoral Act introduces a far-reaching reform by mandating every political party to maintain a comprehensive digital register of its members
3. Mode of nomination of candidates by political parties
i. Section 84(2) eliminates indirect primaries, restricting nomination procedures to direct primaries and consensus.
ii. Section 86 of the Act complements this framework by mandating that âall direct primaries shall be conducted in accordance with the guidelines of each political party.â This provision emphasizes the role of internal party constitutions and regulatory frameworks in shaping the conduct of primaries, ensuring that the process respects both statutory requirements and party-specific rules.
4. INEC mandated to monitor primary Elections.
I. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is legally mandated to monitor political party primary elections under Nigeria's Electoral Act 2026.
ii. INEC-monitored primary election under the Electoral Act 2026 introduces strict regulatory, legal, and operational consequences aimed at eliminating internal party fraud like the one we have been witnessing in Oyo State ADC and reducing post-election litigation. Under this legal framework, any failure by a political party to strictly comply with INEC monitoring guidelines automatically invalidates the primary election, completely barring the party from fielding a candidate for that specific office.
iii. The key structural and legal implications of INEC monitoring under the new Act include:
Strict Compliance with the 21-Day Rule
Mandatory Notice Requirement: According to Section 82, political parties must give INEC at least 21 days' written notice before conducting any primary, congress, or convention.
Automatic Invalidity: Failing to provide this notice or trying to host unmonitored "secret" primaries renders the entire process legally void.
Disqualification: Candidates emerging from un-notified primaries will not be accepted or published on the final ballot.
5. Consensus Candidates.
The Electoral Act 2026 (as amended) recognises consensus as one of the lawful methods through which political parties may nominate candidates for elective offices. Under the Act, parties are limited to either direct primaries or consensus, making consensus a legally regulated internal nomination mechanism rather than an informal political arrangement.
A consensus primary occurs where a political party agrees on a single aspirant without conducting a voting process. However, the law does not permit an imposed candidate. The arrangement must reflect a genuine and voluntary agreement among all aspirants seeking the same office.
The first mandatory condition is that every aspirant must consent to the consensus decision. If even one aspirant refuses to agree, the party cannot proceed by consensus and must instead conduct a direct primary in accordance with the Act.
Secondly, aspirants who step down must formally withdraw from the contest. This withdrawal is expected to be documented in writing to demonstrate that the decision was voluntary and not the result of coercion or undue influence.
Another condition is compliance with internal party rules. The partyâs constitution and guidelines must expressly provide for consensus as a mode of nomination, and the process must follow those internal procedures strictly.
6. Candidate Substitution:
"A political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted under section 29 of this Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate, provided that in the case of such withdrawal or death of a candidate, the political party affected shall, within 14 days of the occurrence of the event, hold another primary election to produce and submit a new candidate to the Commission for the election concerned."
All indications suggest that individuals asserting claims to the Oyo State ADC tickets without participating in the INEC-monitored primary elections are merely deceiving themselves.
It is good that they are providing means of livelihood for many of their advisers and apologists. At least "ti ebi ba kuro ninu ise,ise buse". Meaning â once a person can feed well, half of their worries are gone. Hunger is one of the worst forms of suffering, and when it is taken care of, strength, hope, and peace return.
No wonder many of the apologists of these illegal candidates suddenly resuscitated from their political oblivion and are now struggling for the limelight.
In conclusion, may I rest assure our esteemed members and our legitimate candidates that no letter conveying the list of the candidates of ADC (as being celebrated by the illegitimate candidates), no matter how beautifully couched and worded and signed by rightful signatories of the party, can replace the provisions of the electoral acts 2026 and the provisions of the constitution 2022(as amended).
Yes, there is no single "antidote" for locusts, but rather specific chemical (technical) and biological (Legal) insecticides used to kill or control them during an infestation.
Effective treatments include obtaining the INEC CTC primary Elections reports, which we have received already and eco-friendly biological (pre-election litigation), which infects and kills locusts of the referred characters within a few days or weeks to come. Oya, Ile áșčjá» ya.
BĂ irá»Ì bĂĄ lá» lĂłgĂșn á»dĂșn, á»já»Ì kan áčŁoáčŁo ni ĂČĂłtá»Ì yĂłĂČ bĂĄa" (If a lie travels for twenty years, the truth will catch up with it in just one day).
In circumstances, I am using this medium to appeal to our esteemed members and legitimate candidates to remain resolute and committed- victory is coming our way.
Signed
Bimpe Adelowo Esq
State Publicity Secretary
Oyo State ADC
