The Action Alliance (AA) in Kogi State has distanced itself from Olayinka Ibrahimoh, its candidate, after he instituted a suit to challenge Usman Ododo, winner of the November 11 governorship poll.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olu Omotoso, said the decision was taken during an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party.
The party’s national chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, according to the statement, made the clarification of the party’s position, saying the AA is not inclined to pursue legal action against the Governor-elect, Alhaji Usman Ododo.
He explained that after emerging as the candidate of the election, Ibrahimoh operated without consulting the party.
Omoaje expressed dissatisfaction with Ibrahimoh’s decision to approach the judiciary without the party’s endorsement, saying, “From the moment INEC published the final list of candidates for the Kogi gubernatorial election, Olayinka Ibrahimoh, our adopted candidate for that election deliberately built an edge around himself against the party, making it difficult to relate with him.”
He detailed the party’s attempts to engage with Ibrahimoh, stating the latter refused to collaborate with the party’s leadership.
He narrated an incident involving the Deputy National Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Isa, who was left without communication during his team’s stay in Kogi State.
“Consequent upon the aforementioned, we are stating clearly here that our party, the Action Alliance has no hand in the matter before the Kogi State governorship election tribunal, and we say unequivocally that we are not interested in the matter at all,” he said.