Oyo AA Governorship Aspirant Denies Stepping Down After Primary Conflict

The Action Alliance governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Olaniyi Ajekiigbe, also known as OLA, has denied claims that he dropped out of the race or gave the party’s governorship ticket to Titilola Sodo.

In a statement on Monday from his Head of Publicity Office, Oluseyi Akinwale, in Ibadan, Ajekiigbe said he supports genuine efforts for reconciliation and party unity. But, he warned that these efforts should not suggest that the ongoing legal dispute has been settled in favor of any side.

The statement read, “The judgment must not be written before the judge delivers it. We are cautioning party members and stakeholders against treating the matter as settled while it remains before a competent court.”

The conflict centers around a governorship primary that took place on May 26, 2026, at the AA Secretariat on Old-Ife Road, Ibadan, which Ajekiigbe’s supporters claim he won.

His camp insists that the primary was observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission and other electoral bodies. They have documentary proof, including an electoral report, to back up their claim.

The statement said, “INEC’s publication of a candidate’s name did not, by itself, resolve a pending legal dispute concerning the party’s recognized national leadership or the process by which its candidate emerged.”

Ajekiigbe has not accepted the candidacy of Titilola Sodo, nor has he withdrawn from the contest or given up the mandate he believes he secured at the primary. He insists the dispute should be settled in line with the law.

His camp also reached out to INEC, urging the commission to remain neutral and follow any court orders that recognize Kenneth Udeze as the party’s National Chairman and James Veniembe as National Secretary. They want the party’s candidates uploaded on INEC’s platform.

They stressed that resolving the leadership crisis is key to clarifying the party’s position ahead of the election. They called on “AA members, supporters, and the people of Oyo to remain calm and law-abiding while the judicial process runs its course.”

The statement concluded, “Peace and unity can endure only when the rights of all parties are respected and justice is allowed to take its course.”