Osun PDP Primary: Major contenders; Adeleke, Ogunbiyi, Akinbade quit, elders endorse Babayemi

The four major contenders of the governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State have withdrawn from the party’s primary election scheduled to hold on Tuesday (today).

Those who withdrew from the race on Monday are Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, Fatai Akinbade, Mr Sanya Ominrin and Dele Adeleke, the cousin of Senator Ademola Adeleke.

Ogunbiyi, while announcing his withdrawal in Osogbo, said he withdrew from the contest because of the alleged bias of the PDP national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

He said, “It is a very difficult decision for me because of the amount of investment and the hope that my personality and leadership would have given to Osun State.

“But when you have an umpire who is so biased to the extent of planning with the other group, what can you do?

“Senator Ayu has agreed to work with Ademola Adeleke and I am being told that I shouldn’t waste my money and we did everything possible. I can only come to the conclusion to withdraw from the race.”

Akinbade, in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Monday, said he was withdrawing from the race in respect of the decision of the party elders who have named Dotun Babayemi as the preferred aspirant.

The statement read, “The former SSG has declared his support for Dotun Babayemi who has been chosen by the party elders.

“Accordingly, he appealed to party members across the state, especially his supporters, to rally round Babayemi so that the party could triumph at the coming polls.”

Also, Adeleke, in a statement, said his decision to quit the race was in line with the decision of the PDP leaders who have decided to harmonise forces, “within the school of thought that I subscribed to so that we can jointly prosecute the primary election and win. I respect this decision and believe in their capacity to lead us to victory.”

Meanwhile, a statement issued on behalf of the PDP Elders’ Caucus, endorsed Babayemi.

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The statement signed by a factional chairman of the party, Mr Wale Ojo, further read, “On behalf of Osun State party executives, BOT members, apex party leaders and the entire members of our party in the state, after a painstaking deliberation of the elders of the party and in preparation for the state congress to elect the gubernatorial candidate of our party slated to hold on March 8, 2022, it was unanimously agreed that Prince Dotun Babayemi should fly the flag of the party in the impending state congress.”

Former senator, Ademola Adeleke could be on course to clinch the governorship ticket of the PDP following the mass withdrawal of his major contenders in the party’s primaries holding in Osun state today.

Newsflash Nigeria had earlier reported that the court had validated the power of the national leadership of PDP to conduct ward congress, local congresses, and other congresses.

Sources revealed under the condition of anonymity that the aforesaid order may have likely frustrated the candidates to back out of the race since Ademola Adeleke has the ears of the national leadership of the party.

“An order of interim injunction affirming that it is only the National Executive Committee, either acting through itself or through the National Working Committee, in line with Articles 29 (2), 50 (1), 2 (b), (e) and 3 of the Constitution of the People’s Democratic Party, 2017 that can validly conduct and supervise the holden of Ward Congress to elect the Ward Executive Committee/officers of the party of 25th September 2021, Ward Congress to elect 3-man Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates of 23rd – 24th February 2022, LGA Congress to elect one (1) National Delegate and One,” excerpt from the order obtained online.

Court order validates the power of the National leadership of @OfficialPDPNig to conduct ward Congress, local Congress & other congresses. Court further orders party to only use list of delegates who emerged under supervision of the National leadership for Osun Primaries tomorrow pic.twitter.com/tuVIn5qsGQ— Banks Omisore (@MrBanksOmishore) March 7, 2022

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