Controversy is trailing the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries. Two parallel primaries were held, which produced two candidates-former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole and Mr. Gboyega Isiaka. Correspondent ERNEST NWOKOLO examines the war of attrition and its implications for the next election.
When the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held its re-union rally three months ago, the party secretariat on the Ibrahim Babangida Road, Abeokuta, the state capital, was aglow with festivities. Warring party leaders exchanged banters. They resolved to put the past behind them and work as members of one family.
Former Governor Gbenga Daniel and his supporters attended the rally. Also at the event was Prince Gboyega Isiaka, who defected from the party in 2011. They embraced the Chairman, Chief Bayo Dayo, the Secretary, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo, and the Southwest Chairman of the Coordination and Mobilisation Committee, Prince Buruji Kashamu.
Expectations were high that unity would return to the fold after the rally. Daniel, Kashamu and Dayo said the division was over. But, ahead of the governorship primaries, there was confusion in the party. Party leaders returned to their caucuses to spoil for war. The re-union paled into an artificial reconciliation and wishful thinking. Reminiscent of 2011 episode, Ogun PDP is up in arms against itself. It now suffers from self-inflicted wounds.
The bone of contention is the governorship ticket. The preparation for the shadow poll sparked off crisis. It began with a controversy over conflicting delegate lists. While Kashamu and the party structure said they have the authentic delegates list, chieftains loyal to Bankole, a governorship aspirant, claimed that another list existed. The two camps were locked in argument.
Bankole and his supporters, including former House of Representatives member, Dave Salako, are believed to be enjoying the support of the PDP national leadership. But, Kashamu and Dayo have a hold on the party structure in the state. When Dayo conducted the primaries, Isiaka emerged as the candidate. Bankole kicked against the process, saying that it was flawed. The former Speaker abstained from the process. At the close of the poll, Isiaka polled 705 votes. Hon. Kayode Amusan scored 151 votes while 10 other contestants, including Prince Yanju Lipede, Tony Ojesina, Abiodun Akinlade scored zero votes. The exercise was witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, including Mr.David Asemo, Mr. Clement Idoko and the commission’s administrative Secretary in Ogun State, Dickson Atiba.
Four years ago, Isiaka won the ticket at the primaries held at the MKO International Stadium, Abeokuta. But, the National Working Committee, was sensitive to former President President Olusegun Obasanjo’s body language. Isiaka was edged out and former Administrator of Ekiti State, General Tunji Olurin, became the flag bearer. The technocrat-turned politician defected to the Peoples Party of Nigeria(PPN)and became its candidate. But, he was defeated by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
The post-primary crisis escalated last week when a group, Dimeji Bankole Movement, dismissed Isiaka as a “fake” produced at a flawed primary election. Its Publicity Secretary, Kayode Akintunde, said the chapter is yet to have a candidate. He recalled that the NWC had issued a directive postponing the governorship primary, adding that the disputed exercise was null and void and of no effect. He also said that Bankole and eight other aspirants stayed away from the exercise in compliance with the directive.
Akintunde said: “We believe that Dimeji Bankole and his colleagues should be hailed for their obedience and discipline, instead of crucifying and punishing them through the acceptance of an unauthorized primary. Isiaka is no more than an adulterated article tricked by the organisers into believing that the governorship primary of November 8 was a genuine primary.
“The electoral committee from the national secretariat of the party that was supposed to conduct the primary was not present; neither were observers from the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
But, Isiaka’s kinsmen from Egbado Division have objected to the group’s claims. His supporters, including Chief Iyabo Apampa, former Deputy Governor Salmot Badru and Chief Ebun Oyagbola staged a protest at the party secretariat, demanding the confirmation of his candidature. The Ogun West PDP leaders also alleged plans by the party to impose bankole as the candidate. They said that the district has been marginalised, maintaining that any attempt to deny Isiaka the ticket will be resisted.
Also, the PDP Senatorial Chairman for Ogun West, Boye Adesina, alleged that some powerful and undemocratic elements and their collaborators are bent on throwing the chapter into confusion.
He said: “It is not in the tradition of the PDP to impose or select candidates for elections, but to go through democratic process of open, transparent election as was conducted on December 8. We passionately appeal to the national leadership of our party not to be hoodwinked by these elements to short-circuit the transparent process that has produced Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka as the Ogun State PDP governorship standard bearer for the 2015 election.
“Ogun West people are seriously agitated for the long years of marginalisation in the state and any undue interference to upturn or alter the result of the primary election will not only seriously alienate our people, it will certainly have undesirable consequences on the fortunes of the party in the district. Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka has emerged as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State through the process as defined by the party and we are irrevocably committed to his candidature.”
The protesters handed a protest letter to the PDP Secretary, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo, who assured them that the party would stand by the mandate freely given to Isiaka. He said the state executive committee would send the protest letter to the PDP national secretariat in Abuja.
But, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka Campaign Organisation (GNICO) fired back at Bankole, dismissing him as an “alien” in the Ogun PDP. Its Director of Media and Publicity, Comrade Ifekayode Akinbode, said it was an affront on the sensibilities of the Yewa-Awori people for the ex-Speaker and his group to insult them, warning that they would not tolerate another insult in the future.
Akinbode added: “Let it be stated that Dimeji Bankole is an alien in Ogun PDP today as he has never participated nor identified with the party in all its processes between 2011 and now.
“Nevertheless, any attempt to denigrate the Yewa-Aworis will be met with equal and more brute reaction.”
As the battle for who gets the ticket rages between Isiaka and Bankole, there are fears that the crisis will further polarise the chapter and weaken it, ahead of the elections.
