Owoseni withdraws from Accord governorship primary over alleged violence, infiltration

By Adejayan Gbenga

A former Special Adviser on Security to the Oyo State Governor and governorship aspirant of the Accord Party, Fatai Owoseni, has withdrawn from the party’s primary election ahead of the 2027 governorship race in Oyo State.

Owoseni said his decision was informed by alleged infiltration, manipulation and rising violence within the party structure, which he claimed had compromised the integrity of the process.

The former Nigeria Police Force commissioner disclosed this in a statement titled, “On The Cusp Of A Critical Juncture,” issued in Ibadan on Tuesday.

According to him, recent developments within the party made it impossible for him to continue pursuing his governorship ambition on the Accord platform.

Owoseni stated that he took the decision with a “heavy but resolute heart,” while also extending Eid al-Kabir greetings to residents of Oyo State and members of the party.

He also commiserated with families affected by the recent attack in Ogbomoso, describing the incident as tragic and unfortunate.

The former police commissioner alleged that within the last 12 hours, there had been moves aimed at frustrating his ambition. He further claimed that the party structure in the state had been infiltrated and manipulated by forces determined to retain control of government at all costs.

He also accused some elements within the party of deploying violence and thuggery to disrupt the internal process, adding that despite his withdrawal from the primary race, his commitment to good governance and the development of Oyo State remained unchanged. Owoseni further thanked his supporters for their loyalty and steadfastness throughout his political journey.