In the letter, the member said he conducted due diligence on the character, antecedents and leadership capacity of those occupying strategic positions in the party before joining, in order to avoid a repeat of his 2023 experience, where he alleged that actions of certain individuals entrusted with the Labour Party destabilised the party and affected its electoral fortunes.
He said discovering the Chairman's name as State Chairman gave him confidence and reassurance considering his antecedents.
The writer stated that since 2023, he has consistently championed the political aspirations of Peter Obi and projected his ideals without break, adding that his loyalty to the cause is rooted not in personal gain but in conviction that Nigeria deserves accountable leadership.
He however expressed concern over feedback from his political engagements across Akure metropolis, saying it would be a disservice to remain silent on issues that could undermine the party's prospects.
According to him, during visits to strategic locations in Akure to canvass support for the NDC, concerns were openly expressed about the House of Representatives candidate being projected for the Akure constituency.
He said some of those he engaged argued that the candidate is not an indigene of Akure and that his surname, Oparinde, does not align with names traditionally associated with Akure households.
While noting that a surname alone cannot conclusively establish origin, he said the perception being expressed among the electorate is politically significant and should not be dismissed.
He added that his audience questioned the wisdom of presenting candidates perceived as non-indigenes to represent Akure at a time the party is asking voters to embrace a new political alternative, arguing that even among citizens dissatisfied with the Tinubu-led administration, presenting Peter Obi alongside a House of Representatives candidate perceived as an outsider could create a political dilemma for the party.
The writer stressed that elections are not won by the popularity of a presidential candidate alone, but also depend on the acceptability of other candidates on the ballot, credibility of local structures and ability to connect at the grassroots.
He noted that as the saying goes, all politics is local, and that goodwill enjoyed by a presidential candidate must be nurtured at the local level, warning that reservations about legislative candidates can influence overall perception of the party and its presidential ticket.
He cautioned that opponents will exploit any perceived weakness in the candidate-selection process and that failure to address legitimate concerns could hand adversaries an advantage and prevent the presidential candidate's popularity from translating into electoral gains.
The member said the NDC must distinguish between personal loyalty to individuals and commitment to party success, and must not become a platform where individuals rely solely on the popularity of presidential hopefuls to secure tickets without demonstrating acceptability and grassroots support.
He said the popularity of Peter Obi and aspirations associated with the Obi-Kwankwaso movement must not become a vehicle for candidates who have not established connection with constituencies they seek to represent.
He therefore urged the State Chairman to look into the matter and ensure due diligence on the candidate's background, local connections, acceptability and electoral viability, clarifying that the appeal is not a personal attack but a call for proactive leadership and strategic candidate selection that places collective interest above individual ambition.
He also encouraged the party leadership to extend scrutiny beyond Akure South and Akure North to other constituencies, stating that every candidate seeking to fly the NDC flag should be assessed on merit, integrity, competence, grassroots acceptance and capacity to mobilise votes.
He maintained that party tickets should not be treated as personal entitlements but earned through commitment, credibility and capacity to advance collective aspirations, with the objective of building an NDC trusted by the people and capable of translating public dissatisfaction into electoral victories.
He expressed belief in the Chairman's leadership and said history will judge the party not merely by its platform but by the quality of decisions made and the outcomes produced.
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