Stakeholders in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), including Chief Nathaniel Taiwo, former council chairman of Kabba, LG and three aspirants in last Wednesday’s party primary for the Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal constituency, Salman Idris, Sunday Adeleye and Okesuji Obatoyinbo have rejected the exercise.
Taiwo, a member of the Kogi State house of assembly between 2012 and 2016, along with the other aggrieved stakeholders therefore called for, “the immediate conduct of a free, fair, transparent and credible primary election for Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency to enable a candidate emerge that will truly reflect the wishes and aspirations of majority of delegates
“Reconstitution of a new election committee composed of persons of impeccable character to conduct the primary election during the day.”
Highlighting the sequence of events, they warned of adverse consequence of failure to conduct a proper party primary for the federal constituency.
“In view of the contrived confusion foisted on aspirants and party loyalists as it affect the primary election for Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, it has become pertinent to lay bare the facts, avail our party leadership and constituents an update and point out the dire consequences of not conducting the primary election.
“Nine aspirants were screened, cleared and eligible to participate in the primary election. Aspirants and delegates converged at Prestige Hotel, Kabba; the designated venue for the election.
“Delegates and aspirants waited sixteen hours from 8am to 12 midnight but did not see party officials assigned to conduct the exercise and no justifiable reason was communicated for their absence and inability to conduct the primary election.
“Delegates and aspirants dispersed after information was received that the primary election has been shifted to 7am on 4th October, 2018 for security considerations in view of the time to avoid apprehension.
“At about 1.30am news filtered out that party officials led by Bode Ogunmola, Kogi State PDP Publicity Secretary were at the venue conducting accreditation of delegates.
“Only seven out of 337 delegates were on ground at the time other aspirants arrived the venue with delegates they were able to contact.
This attempted electoral heist was rebuffed with protests and when Hon. T. J Yusuf realized the ploy was not going to fly, the thugs that came with him started sporadic shooting to ensure the primary election did not hold. This forced the officials to abscond on the premise of insecurity and alleged threats to their lives.
“Incident was reported at Kabba Divisional Police headquarters, where it was confirmed that the Police and other security agencies were not invited to provide security coverage for the event
“Hon. T. J. Yusuf after the mayhem and aborted primary election caused to be published that he has won the primary election. The online publication to this effect was retracted after the blogger realized he was misled. There can be no winner or loser in a contest that never held.
“When confronted on 4th October, 2018 in Lokoja, Mr. Bode Ogunmola, who is also the Returning Officer for the election confirmed there was no election for Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency.
“What played out was a sinister plot, to criminally conduct a kangaroo primary election in the absence of other aspirants by deliberately appearing after midnight thinking other aspirants will not know; there was a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise 330 delegates.
“There is an obvious collaboration between one aspirant and obviously compromised party officials saddled with the responsibility of conducting the primary election to confer unfair advantage on a particular aspirant to the detriment of other aspirants.
“The deliberate evasive disposition of Bode Ogunmola that has made conduct of the primary election impossible is a ploy to run down the clock considering the expiration of submission of party’s candidates to INEC.
“The summation of the aforementioned is a deliberate attempt to foist Hon. T. J Yusuf on us by tactically ensuring the primary election did not hold.”
Read Also: Saraki’s performance at convention indicates rejection – APC
They demanded that urgent decisive and punitive actions be taken against the perpetrators of what was described as an attempt to foist a candidate on the people of the constituency.
“At this critical stage in our party’s (PDP) bid to reposition itself for success in the 2019 elections, old attributes that have been inimical to it’s interest must be jettisoned.
“Until and unless the primary election is held urgently, the resulting crisis will reduce the chances of the party in the 2019 election.
“We remain resolute on our insistence that the primary election must not only hold but be conducted in adherence to due process.
“We understand that by INEC’s timetable, the deadline for all political parties to submit their lists of candidates is 7th October, 2018 and we await the decision of our party leadership on how we can escape this obvious quagmire.”