As all attention is focused on some popular political parties and their candidates in Ogun State like APC, PDP ADC and the new bride on the block APM, towards the 2019 election , one political party that people are not paying too much attention to is ADP. We can tell you authoritatively that gubernatorial candidate of the party is former Speaker, Hon. Dimeji Bankole.
We can tell you authoritatively that the party and the flag bearer are working round the clock with their grassroot campaign everyday. Political analysts in Ogun have also argued that the former speaker might shake tables in the 2019 gubernatorial election in Ogun State. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, has also said that his party ADP will win the 2019 governorship seat in the state.
Bankole said this when he was formally unveiled by the state party chairman, Chief Wale Egunleti, to other party members and supporters at the party secretariat, Onikolobo in Abeokuta. The former Reps Speaker said: “I am exceedingly happy to be nominated as our party’s governorship candidate. I am grateful to this massive structure you have built in the last six years, especially in the last two years.”
According to the statement, the former House of Representatives Speaker, noted that the state had witnessed bad governance and vowed to liberate the state In all ramifications. The statement read, “We wish to assure all members that this mandate will not be taken for granted. Dimeji Bankole is the only gubernatorial candidate from Ogun Central, he is banking on the fact that Ogun central has the largest population in the state, so while other gubernatorial candidates from the east and west are dividing votes from their area which might result to little or none for some of them , he will be clinching votes from his area. He is also banking on his father’s status in the state.
ADP is a registered political party in Nigeria. The party was formed and established in 2017 to deal with the lapses that have over the years been complained about by Nigerians because the tenets of true democracy have been lost thereby giving some select few a godlike image where political parties are being dictated upon by the few and powerful. The chairman, Board of Trustees, of the newly registered Action Democratic Party, ADP, Chief Alani Bankole, is the father of Dimeji Bankole who also doubles as the gubernatorial candidate of the party.
As it is now , Dimeji is banking on his father’s experience in politics to pull through in 2019 , this explains why they started their campaign from the grassroots.
Alani is Nigerian Egba businessman and chieftain from Ogun State. He was the Chairman of West African Aluminum Products(WAAP) Plc.He holds the Yoruba aristocratic titles Oluwo of Iporo Ake and Seriki Jagunmolu of Egbaland. Sabur Oladimeji Bankole popularly known as Dimeji Bankole was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, on November 14th, 1969. His father, Suarau Olayiwola Alani Bankole is a traditional Yoruba chief from Iporo Oju Ogun in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State and his mother, Mrs. Atinuke Bankole, the Ekerin Iyalode of Egbaland. Dimeji is a businessman, politician, and the 9th and youngest Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria.
Bankole attended Baptist Boys’ High School in Abeokuta before completing his college education at Albany College in London, England. He had his undergraduate education at the University of Reading, England where he studied Economics. Bankole obtained a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from Oxford University, England, in 1992. Bankole served as Director of Freight Agencies Nigeria Limited from 1995 until 1998. He was the Executive Director of Operations of West African Aluminum Products Limited from 1998 until 2003, and Director of ASAP Limited from 2000 until 2003. He established a charity, the Emma Skipper Foundation. Among the tasks the organisation has undertaken are giving micro-credit loans and awarding scholarships. Bankole was elected to represent Abeokuta South Federal Constituency of Ogun State between May 2003 and May 2011, under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He was re-elected in April 2007. In November 2007, he was elected to serve as the 9th Speaker of the House. Elected at 38 years of age, he remains the youngest Speaker of the House.
In 2011, Bankole lost a bid for a third term at the House. Soon after his term, he was tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but was later cleared of the charges. He currently serves as Chairman of Aspire Integrated Consultants.