9th September, 2014
A political pressure group, Team Akala, said on Tueasday that the large turnout at the gubernatorial rally of former governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo state indicated his wide acceptability.
The group said this in a statement by its media coordinator, Mr Ademola Adeniyi. Alao-Alaka had on 4 September in Ibadan officially declared his intention to contest the 2015 gubernatorial election in the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alao-Akala governed the state from 2007 to 2011 on the PDP platform but lost his re-election bid in 2011 to the incumbent, Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group said that none of the aspirants of the PDP or other political parties in the state could match the chances of Alao-Akala in the race for 2015 polls.
“The impressive turnout at the colourful declaration and the procession round Ibadan on September 4 had shown that the people Of Oyo state actually want Alao-Akala back as governor in the next political dispensation.
“This quest for his return can be connected with the socio-economic protection policy of his administration. A government with human face and which pursued vigorously economic prosperity and genuine development,” it said.
It said that those who allegedly misled the people against Alao-Akala in 2011 were not only regretting but had joined the crusade to bring him back, adding that they had caused the state a setback.
The group expressed appreciation to both members of the party and the public for supporting Alao Akala, urging them to remain resolute and vote for him at the appropriate time.
It also added that the people should register and collect the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).