2023 presidency: Al-Mustapha, others may lose Action Alliance tickets

From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

Strong indications have emerged that Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha (rtd), the presidential candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), may not contest the 2023 election because of the crisis currently rocking the party.

According to findings, Al-Mustapha belongs to a faction of the party headed by Mr Kenneth Udeze, who was said to have been suspended and subsequently expelled from the party.

This fate may also befall other candidates who did not gain the blessings of the Hon. Adekunle Rufai Omoaje-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Prominent among these contestants are the party’s governorship candidates in Kwara State, Mr Daodu Mogaji and his counterpart in Ogun State, Dr Olufemi Adeyemi.

Sources in the party confirmed that the National Think Thank of the party, which is the highest ruling organ of the party had expelled Udeze from the party.

It was reliably gathered that Udeze did not challenge his suspension and subsequent expulsion from the party in any court of competent jurisdiction till date.

However, it was learnt that Udeze had approached a lower court after the Court of Appeal had upheld his expulsion, but failed to join the leadership of the party in the suit he instituted.

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had on January 7, 2022 in its ruling upheld the suspension and expulsion of Udeze, declaring that his inability to challenge his suspension and subsequent expulsion from the party validated it.

To this end, it was gathered that the party under the leadership of Hon. Omoaje has failed to give recognition to Al-Mustapha as its presidential candidate, hence the risk of failing to represent the party in the general election.

A source within the party disclosed that only the candidates presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by Hon. Omoaje, who is the authentic and recognized National Chairman of the party, would be recognized by INEC, as efforts are on top gear to present the candidates to INEC through the court.

However, efforts to get Al-Mustapha to comment on the situation proved abortive as he did not respond to all the calls put across to him or reply the text messages sent to his mobile line.