Group faults directive on nomination forms

The Kwara South Peoples Assembly has strongly condemned a recent directive from the Omo Ibile Igbomina socio-cultural group, which instructed political aspirants of Igbomina origin to postpone the collection of nomination forms. In a firm rejoinder, the Assembly, led by Otunba Babatunde Akinyemi, labeled the directive as "insensitive, wrong, and a clear departure from the mandate of a socio-cultural organisation." They argued that Omo Ibile Igbomina has no business interfering in the political aspirations of Igbomina sons and daughters, asserting that its core mission should be promoting culture, unity, and development.

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The said directive is insensitive, wrong, and a clear departure from the mandate of a socio-cultural organisation.

The Assembly’s statement, obtained by Arewa PUNCH, highlighted that such meddling in party nomination processes is "ultra vires" and sets a dangerous precedent. They raised concerns about the potential for this directive to escalate political tension in Kwara South, fostering suspicion and factionalism among aspirants. The group questioned the neutrality of the Omo Ibile Igbomina leadership, suggesting the move could be a calculated ploy to benefit a particular aspirant.

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Omo Ibile Igbomina was not founded to regulate the political aspirations of Igbomina sons and daughters. It has no business dictating when and how aspirants should engage their political parties.

Adding a layer of political scrutiny, the Kwara South Peoples Assembly pointed to the political affiliations of the Omo Ibile Igbomina executive leadership. Specifically, they noted that the group's head, Chief Bisi Fakayode, is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and recently stepped down as the party’s Kwara South Senatorial Chairman. This revelation fuels the Assembly's call for the organization's Board of Trustees and Council of Elders to intervene and prevent further damage to the group's reputation, emphasizing that hiding behind culture to pursue partisan agendas is unacceptable.

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Meddling in party nomination processes is ultra vires and sets a dangerous precedent. What happens if Ibolo Association, Ekiti Kwara Association, or Ilorin Descendants Union also begins to issue political bans to their kinsmen?