Prominent Aspirant Withdraws As Osun PDP Conducts Guber Primary
Barely hours to the conduct of Peoples Democratic Party PDP gubernatorial primary election in Osun State, one of the aspirants, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi has announced his withdrawal from the contest.
The party chieftain who made his withdrawal known at his campaign office in Ogo-oluwa, area of Osogbo, the state capital on Monday alleged that there was a conspiratorial plan by the leadership of the party from the national headquarters to be biased in the election.
Ogunbiyi further pointed out that, an aspirant’s camp has equally perfected plans to molest, harass and even cause mayhem that could claim the lives of his political supporters during the party primary election.
Meanwhile, an internal memorandum earlier signed by the Secretary of the state chapter of the party, Hon. Bola Ajao stated that the governorship primary election will hold at Osogbo township stadium on Tuesday, 8th, March, 2022.
While debunking rumours making the round that the venue of the party primary has been shifted, Ajao urged party members to conduct themselves peacefully during the Congress/governorship primary election.
However, the Osun state chapter of the All Progressives Congress APC has told the opposition PDP not to soak the state in conflict and stop a repeat of their alleged violence and killing style in the party’s governorship primary election.
A statement made available by the party’s Directorate of Publicity, Research and Strategy and signed by its Director, Kunle Oyatomi on Monday in Osogbo, also warned members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress to stay away from the party primary.
Oyatomi said that ‘It is no longer news that PDP is allergic to credible election, and the party is full of violence and blood sucking monsters who don’t believe in free, fair, credible and transparent election.
“We ask them to stop acting already rehearsed drama of violence and killing in order not to soak the peace of Osun in conflict” Oyatomi said.
Also, the Osun State police command has promised adequate security during the governorship primary.
A statement made available by the command Public Relations Officer, SP Opalola Yemisi Olawoyin assured the general public, especially the people of the state, of adequate security before, during and beyond the PDP governorship primary election; and urged the Politicians to play the game as stipulated in line with the Electoral Acts 2010.
“The Police and other security agencies in the state will provide a level playing ground for all aspirants and all the eligible electorates/delegates to exercise their franchise while we will not hesitate to deal decisively and within the ambit of law, with anyone, group of persons who might attempt to foment trouble or disrupt the smooth conduct of the election” Opalola stated.
The State government had earlier raised the alarm that some persons have stockpiled fez caps, T-shirts and other materials bearing insignia of the All Progressives Congress (APC), its government and that of its governorship candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola, to be distributed to political thugs and hoodlums to foment trouble in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ismail Omipidan, who raised the alarm in a statement in Osogbo, on Monday stated that government has therefore called on the opposition PDP to watch out for the activities of fifth columnists within its fold, just as security operatives had been charged to deal decisively with real and potential troublemakers before, during and after the primary.
The government further noted that it was in possession of an intelligence report indicating that the motive of those behind the dastardly act was not only to create the impression of Osun being a volatile state but also put the blame on the doorstep of Government.
The statement reads in part: “We are compelled to raise this alarm as an early warning sign of the clandestine schemes being put together by some unscrupulous elements to tarnish the image and reputation of the APC, the Governor and its candidate, Government of Osun and to cause trouble and paint the picture of a volatile State, and with a view to putting the blame on its doorstep.
“As a Government, we held a peaceful, credible, free and fair direct primary without rancour and violence. We shall therefore have no reason to instigate or support violence anywhere within the State.
“But the fire and brimstone coming from the warring parties within the opposition PDP is scary. The intelligence at our disposal confirms the plot to cause violence is indeed real. However, as a responsive and responsible government, we are already taking steps to deal with it.
“We therefore want to warn those behind this nefarious plot to jettison the idea as security operatives have been put on the alert and mandated to deal decisively with anyone bent on causing violence and destruction in Osun.
“We also want to appeal to parents and guardians to rein in their children and wards so that they will not be used as tools by merchants of violence and destruction.
“Our State is renowned for peace, and we are ready to take every legitimate step to keep it so before, during and after the opposition PDP primary” Omipidan stated.
Senator Ademola Adeleke, Dr. Dotun Babayemi, Alhaji Fatai Akinade Akinbade, Hon. Sanya Omirin and Mr. Kunle Adeleke are expected to slug it out at the governorship primary election.
