The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has debunked reports linking it to the endorsement of a newly formed coalition of political parties in Nigeria.
The organisation issued a statement on Tuesday to clarify its position following claims that a delegation representing it visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Abeokuta residence over the weekend.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, and released from Ibadan, Oyo State, Afenifere firmly stated that it had neither sent representatives to Obasanjo nor made any statements attributed to it in relation to the political coalition.
Reports had earlier indicated that a coalition of opposition political parties had agreed to adopt the African Democratic Congress as a common platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ajayi explained that the individuals who visited Obasanjo were key figures in the campaign to make Peter Obi president during the 2023 election.
Afenifere said, “We are not denying the fact that at least two of the people in the delegation are notable Afenifere chieftains. They are Sola Ebiseni and Akin Osuntokun.
“But it is on record that Osuntokun was the person who took over as Campaign Director of Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign Council when late Doyin Okupe resigned from that position.
“Ebiseni was the South-West Coordinator of the same council,” the organisation explained.
Ajayi further noted that the presence of other Peter Obi campaign officials, who are not affiliated with Afenifere, highlighted that the visit was not an official representation of the Yoruba socio-political group.
“They were John Ughulu and Folaseye Adabayo, Lagos State Coordinator and Secretary, respectively, of Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign Council.
“The principal, Obi, has been reported to be in the ADC Coalition presently. It is therefore logical that his supporters would be justifying the coalition.
“Afenifere is not against any political group. But it is not in cahoots with any political party since it is non-partisan politically. Afenifere is for all the Yorubas. As we all know, not all Yoruba people are in politics.
“Even those who are in politics do not necessarily belong to the same political party. As such, Afenifere can not afford to be politically partisan.
“But since it has a political view, it can support a (socio-political) standpoint that aligns with its own position at any given time,” the statement stated.
Ajayi concluded by reaffirming Afenifere’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to restore and reposition the country for the benefit of all citizens, adding that conversations about coalition formations were distractions the group would not engage in.
