The former Special Adviser on Security Matters to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and retired Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has withdrawn from the Accord Party governorship primaries scheduled to hold on Tuesday.
Reports had earlier suggested that Owoseni might not participate in the exercise over concerns surrounding the credibility of the process.
Sources within the party disclosed that the retired police officer decided to pull out due to alleged plans by certain interests to infiltrate the party structure and destabilise the primaries through violence.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Owoseni said he was stepping aside from the Accord Party after observing what he described as troubling developments within the party.
“I speak with a heavy but resolute heart,” he stated while addressing members and supporters of the party.
Owoseni also expressed sympathy to families affected by the recent attack in Ogbomoso, describing the security situation in the state as disturbing.
“I commiserate deeply with the families of those who were gruesomely murdered during the attack,” he said.
According to him, the current security challenges facing the country should ordinarily dominate public discourse rather than political activities.
However, he noted that he owed his supporters an explanation regarding his decision to withdraw from the race.
“Within the past twelve hours, ongoing developments in the party point to orchestrated plans to ensure that our gubernatorial aspiration via the platform of the Accord Party is not achieved,” he stated.
Owoseni accused unnamed political forces of infiltrating and manipulating the Accord Party structure in Oyo State in a bid to sustain political control.
“The first is the total infiltration and manipulation of the Party structure, especially at the State level, by elements within the State who will go to any lengths to ensure that perpetuity in government is sustained,” he said.
He further alleged that thuggery and violence were being introduced into the process to frustrate the conduct of the primaries.
“Secondly, thuggery and violence are emerging as instruments to destabilise the Party to ensure that the entire process is stalemated,” he added.
The former police commissioner assured supporters that his decision does not signal the end of his political ambition, insisting that the pursuit of better governance for the people remains his priority.
Owoseni thanked his supporters for standing by him since the beginning of the political journey and appealed for their understanding over his withdrawal from the party’s governorship contest.
