Old rivalries and animosities were the stock in trade in the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) congresses that were held across the nation at the weekend. They were also characterised by intrigues and manipulations.
The major division and battle of wits was witnessed in Ogun State where the two leading factions, headed by Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president, and Gbenga Daniel, governor of the state, led their various factions to elect two different candidates at their parallel congresses.
One party, two candidates
The faction loyal to Mr. Obasanjo held its congress within the complex of Obasanjo Presidential Library, while that of Mr. Daniel held its own at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta. At the end of its congress, the Obasanjo faction produced Adetunji Olurin, a military general and former sole administrator of Ekiti State, after defeating other aspirants. On the other hand, those loyal to Mr. Daniel elected Gboyega Isiaka, former managing director, Gateway Holdings. Ironically, the two candidates are from the same zone.
Both factions of the party had earlier produced two senatorial candidates. The Daniel faction produced him as the candidate of the party for Ogun East at its congress held at Gateway International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode, while the other group produced Toyeeb Odunnowo. Similarly, the Daniel group in Ogun Central produced Lola Abiola-Edewor, daughter of the late politician, Moshood Abiola, to represent the party at the senatorial election, while Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, daughter of Mr. Obasanjo was elected by the parallel executive as the party’s flag bearer.
Interestingly, officials of State Security Services {SSS}, Police, and other security operatives were in attendance at the parallel congresses, apparently to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.
Mr. Gboyega said he is humbled by his choice, adding that the victory is total for democracy. He said he would do all his best to ensure that the state is moved forward in good direction, as being done by the incumbent.
“I promise to do my best and add value to governance. I appreciate all our delegates and party members for their support, and promise that I would not let them down. By God’s grace, in the next few months, we shall get to the promise land,” he said.
Also in his own response, Mr. Olurin said “I give gratitude to almighty God and I have to thank the people of Ogun State for what has happened here today. You can see that the whole process was very transparent, orderly, and quiet.”
On the parallel primaries in the state, he said, “Whoever emerges will do so through the national headquarters because the national chairman has said that he will take every complaints into consideration, both parallel primaries and complaints, he said will be looked into. I am confident that PDP national headquarters will do the right thing.”
Enormous challenges
President Goodluck Jonathan has called on the Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, to be ready to resolve enormous challenges as he wins the party’s ticket for a second term.
He said in Yenagoa, where he had gone to cast his vote as one of the delegates from Ogbia local government area, his birth place, that for him to have won the ticket for a second time in a stretch, means the people have confidence in him.
The president advised that the action should make the governor to work tirelessly to ensure that the dividends of democracy are delivered to the people.
Mr. Sylva pulled 420 votes to win the PDP primaries out of the 471 accredited delegates. In Akwa Ibom, executives of the party confirmed Governor Godswill Akpabio as sole candidate, following the disqualification of two other contestants, Messrs. Imoh Udoh and Frank Okon. Mr. Udoh later left the venue in anger and protest saying his disqualification was unfair. Also in Abia State, the governor, Theodore Orji, won.
The exercise was postponed in Oyo State till Wednesday to enable the contending factions settle their differences. The party has two factions in the state, one loyal to the state governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, while the other is led by Lekan Balogun and Teslim Folarin, who is currently standing trial over the murder of Lateef Salako aka Eleweomo.
Screening of National Assembly aspirants would, however, hold from today to Wednesday. The PDP director of media and publicity in Oyo State said that the congress in the state necessitated the postponement of the governorship primaries.
Gbemisola Saraki has emerged the governorship candidate of her father‘s political party, the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria. Ms. Saraki, who is a Senator, dumped the PDP to pursue her gubernatorial ambition on the platform of ACPN because her brother Bukola Saraki, the governor, is opposed to her ambition.
Meanwhile, Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, has been endorsed by the PDP as the party’s flag bearer. Mr. Lamido, who was the only aspirant that contested on the party’s ticket, got all 1100 votes cast by the delegates at the congress held at Aminu Kano Triangle, Dutse, yesterday.
The returning officer for the party, Millionaire Abowore, explained that all the necessary procedures were adopted to give the governor the ticket.
Jonah Jang of Plateau State also won a second term ticket as he was unopposed. He got the nod from 756 out of the 763 delegates that attended the state congress held at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos.
Mr. Emmanuel Ibeshi, the Returning Officer for the state, who announced the results, said that seven votes were voided. He said that the election was held in spite of the absence of any opposition “because some of the delegates may not be disposed to Jang’s aspiration and may want a replacement.”
Chibuike Amaechi has won the governorship primary of the PDP for Rivers State. He appealed to the people to ensure reconciliation among members.
The electoral committee chairman, Dan Orbih, said that of the 1,143 votes cast, Mr. Amaechi scored 1,139, while Mrs. Dennisada Ben-Fiabema had only one vote, while Celestine Omehia and another aspirant, Moore Chinda, won no votes.
In Adamawa, the primaries was postponed till a later date, while Lagos State will hold today its own today.
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