The leadership of the Action Alliance (AA) faction, led by Chief Kenneth Udeze, has raised concerns over the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) decision to list Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje as the party's presidential candidate. According to the Udeze-led faction, Omo-Aje is allegedly coordinating the presidential campaign of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the South-West region. This development has sparked controversy, with the faction questioning how Omo-Aje can be the presidential candidate of AA while working for another party.
INEC's final list of presidential candidates, published in September, named Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje as the AA presidential candidate. However, the Udeze-led faction disputes this, citing Omo-Aje's alleged involvement in SDP's campaign activities. The faction argues that this is a contradiction and has called on INEC to explain how a person listed as a presidential candidate of one party can coordinate the campaign of another party's presidential candidate. The situation has raised concerns about the credibility of the 2027 electoral process.
The Udeze-led faction has accused Omo-Aje of simultaneously presenting himself as the presidential candidate of AA while serving as the South-West coordinator of SDP's presidential campaign. The faction described the situation as contradictory and called on INEC to address the issue. According to Udeze, the alleged development is evidence that Omo-Aje and those associated with his faction are being used to undermine the party. The faction has demanded that INEC delist Omo-Aje from its list of AA presidential candidates and recognize Joseph Oluwadare Fadojoe instead.
The controversy surrounding AA's presidential candidate has been ongoing, with disputes over the party's leadership and candidate nomination. In January 2024, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed Udeze as AA's national chairman in an appeal brought by Adekunle Rufai Omoaje. However, recent litigation and competing claims indicate that the disputes have continued. The Udeze-led faction claims that its presidential primary produced Fadojoe as its candidate and demands that INEC recognize him as the authentic candidate.
The faction has appealed to INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to address the embarrassing situation before the 2027 elections. According to Udeze, INEC must be seen to be consistent, transparent, and impartial in handling the competing claims before it. The demand comes weeks after a coalition of civil society organizations also called on INEC to recognize Fadojoe as AA's presidential candidate, citing the Court of Appeal's pronouncements concerning the party's leadership.
The Udeze-led faction maintains that the dispute is not merely an internal party matter, arguing that the identity of AA's candidate would have implications for the credibility of the 2027 election. According to Udeze, the 2027 election cannot be credible if questions surrounding the nomination of candidates are not transparently addressed. The faction urges INEC to resolve the controversy and make its position known publicly.
The AA leadership has stated that it will continue to pursue available constitutional and legal avenues to defend what it describes as the party's legitimate structure and presidential nomination. According to Udeze, the objective is not to create confusion but to ensure that the truth about the party's leadership and presidential candidacy is properly established before Nigerians.
Key points
- The Action Alliance faction led by Chief Kenneth Udeze questions INEC's decision to list Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje as the party's presidential candidate due to his alleged involvement in SDP's presidential campaign.
- The Udeze-led faction demands that INEC delist Omo-Aje and recognize Joseph Oluwadare Fadojoe as the authentic presidential candidate of Action Alliance.
- The controversy surrounding AA's presidential candidate has raised concerns about the credibility of the 2027 electoral process.
