One of the leaders of the Yoruba socio‑political group Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has confronted his acting successor, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, for claiming that the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, won the February 25 election. Fasoranti emphasized that any declaration contrary to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) official result is illegal.
The disagreement between Adebanjo and Fasoranti dates back to the 2023 presidential campaign. Adebanjo publicly supported Obi, while Fasoranti backed the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Tinubu. After INEC announced Tinubu as President‑elect, Adebanjo issued a communique following Afenifere’s monthly General Meeting at his country home in Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State. In that document he alleged unauthorised statements and “uncouth activities” carried out in the organisation’s name, and he accused members Ajayi and Abagun of constantly denigrating Afenifere, including asserting that Obi had won the poll.
Fasoranti countered that the organisation—and indeed the world—recognises Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s President‑elect, describing him as a true Yoruba son and national figure. He also criticised the alleged suspension of the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, and the National Organising Secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, over their positions on a recent comment by Ohanaeze Ndigbo chieftain Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. Fasoranti argued that the suspension was null and void, noting that the two officials were punished before appearing before a disciplinary committee.
In a statement issued on Friday, the former Second Republic Commissioner for Finance in Ondo State questioned why Ajayi and Abagun were declared guilty and sanctioned pre‑emptively. Titled “Afenifere is a law‑abiding organisation,” the statement read: “My attention has been drawn to the communique purportedly issued after a meeting held on Tuesday, 27 March, at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State. Section 2.02 of that document claims that ‘the results of the lawful votes at the presidential election available to Afenifere through credible sources confirm that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, won the said election.’ Afenifere cannot assert that anyone other than the candidate declared by the constitutionally mandated body, INEC, is the winner of the February 25, 2023 election. INEC has declared the APC candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the winner. Our National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, sent a congratulatory message to the President‑elect after he received his Certificate of Return from INEC. The communique labelled this an ‘uncouth activity’ and stated that Ajayi and Abagun were ‘suspended sine die’ pending disciplinary recommendations, effectively pronouncing them guilty before any hearing.”
Fasoranti concluded that Adebanjo’s claim that Obi won the election and his challenge to INEC’s declaration are alien to Afenifere’s role; the organisation is not an agent of the state nor an electoral umpire.
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