The crisis rocking the Osun state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its 2022 gubernatorial ticket may soon become a thing of the past, reports Assistant Editor, ‘Dare Odufowokan.
Ahead of the July 2022 governorship election in Osun state, prominent elders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the state have resolved to wade into the crisis generated by the gubernatorial primary election of the party. According to party sources, the intervention of the elders followed the failure of several peace moves aimed at placating aggrieved party chieftains and uniting the party ahead of the election.
Two chieftains of the party, Senator Ademola Adeleke and Prince Dotun Babayemi, are laying claim to the opposition’s party ticket, having being elected in separate primary elections in Osogbo, the state capital. While one primary election took place at the Osogbo City Stadium, aggrieved members held a parallel Governorship election at WOCDIF Event Center.
Six aspirants, including Ademola Adeleke, Prince Dotun Babayemi, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, Dele Adeleke, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, and Omirin Emmanuel Olusanya were on the race for the PDP ticket and the Mohammed Adoke-led screening committee from the PDP National Secretariat cleared all of them for the contest. The members of the party at the stadium are supporters of Adeleke while those supporting Babayemi were at the parallel primary.
At the end of the parallel Governorship primary election at WOCDIF event center, Babayemi was declared winner by the returning officer, Mr. Adelani Ajanaku, and the flag of the party was handed over to him. Senator Adeleke was declared the winner of the primary election held at the City Stadium which was supervised by officials of the party from PDP national secretariat.
Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has listed Adeleke as the party’s candidate after the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo affirmed him as the authentic candidate of the PDP in the July 16 governorship election in Osun State, the Babayemi camp still refuses to accept the verdict, preferring instead to appeal the judgement. The move, party sources claim, is now a source of worry ahead of the election.
“There is need for the matter to be resolved so that the PDP can approach the election in one body and soul. We need to win this election and return to power in Osun state,” our source said. Justice Nathaniel Emmanuel had affirmed Adeleke’s candidacy while delivering a ruling in a suit filed by a factional candidate of the PDP, Prince Dotun Babayemi.
The Nation gathered that party elders such as former Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Deputy Governor, Erelu Olusola Obada and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, among others, recently resolved that it is important for the crisis to be resolved in the interest of the party. “Consequently, efforts are currently on to bring the gladiators to the table and end the stalemate as soon as possible. Very soon, you will see that the two parties will work together as one,’ our source said.
Dropping a hint about the peace move recently while featuring on a live radio phone-in political programme in Osogbo, the state capital, Oyedokun, a PDP) Board of Trustees member, assured that the current crisis rocking the party in the state will be resolved by party elders who are already meeting. The elder statesman however said the winner takes all attitude of some people remained the challenge towards true reconciliation.
“We the elders are already working round the clock in our quest at ending the crisis affecting our party in Osun State. Even at that, no one would blame the Omooba Dotun Babayemi group for legitimately insisting on their rights. They have truly shown that they are no fools that could be ridden roughshod,” he said.
While assuring that the party would win the coming polls, the PDP BoT member implored everyone to remain calm as everything would be sorted out in due course. “Equally, I want to passionately appeal to everyone not to defect to other parties because of the developments within our party, the PDP. We shall surely overcome this phase,” he promised.
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