Despite the resignation of Mr Ebenezer Alabi as the Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, there were still parallel primaries in all the federal constituencies of the state today.
Alabi, who resigned last Friday with four other members of his Executives, was immediately replaced by the State Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperative Service, Clement Faboyede
However, the old PDP members, who were furious over the new development quickly appointed a factional Chairman, Mr. Olu Ogunye.
DAILY POST correspondent, who monitored the exercise in Akure, Owo and all the four local governments in Akokoland discovered that candidates emerged from the two factions.
Security operatives, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Party National Electoral Panel led by its Chairman, Adewale Afolabi, were seen at Mimiko’s factional primaries but the old PDP also claimed that INEC and security operatives witnessed their primaries.
In Akure South/North, the State Coordinator for SURE P, Adedayo Omolafe emerged candidate for the old PDP camp, while Dare Aliu emerged through consensus arrangement from Mimiko’s camp.
In Akoko South West/East, Hon. Martins Abiloye emerged as the candidate of the of the old faction, while, Hon. Debo Ologunagba got a returning ticket from Mimiko’s faction.
Also, in Owo, Femi Adekanmbi got the ticket of the Old PDP faction, while Mrs. Folashade Tinubu has been picked through consensus arrangement from Mimiko’s camp.
In Akoko North East/West, there was crisis as delegates protested against imposition of a candidate.
In Ilaje/Ese-Odo, Kolade Akinjo emerged from Mimiko’s faction, while Old PDP elected Bamgbe Atimise. Ondo West/East, voted Joseph Akinlaja from Mimiko’s camp, while Olabisi Johnson emerged from the old PDP camp.
It was gathered that there was an alleged plan to impose one Deni Akerele as the candidate of the party.
However, Mimiko, who monitored the primaries in Akure, the State Capital and addressed the party electoral panel headed by Adewale Afolabi said the crisis rocking the party was over.
While appealing to the aggrieved party members to embrace peace, boasted that he was ready to deliver one million votes for President Goodluck Jonathan during 2015 general elections.
The governor, who described PDP as a mega party in the state, also boasted that PDP would clear all the 26 State Assembly, nine House of Representatives and the three senatorial seats.
His words, “I am happy today because I can see many of our leaders from the old and new PDP now working together.
“With what I see on ground and the attitude of people of Akure which has the largest votes in the state, I believe we are now ready to give Mr. President one million votes.
“What has happened in the past is normal when two parties come together, there must challenges. As the leader of this party, in everything we do, we will be just.
“I want to assure you that this party will continue to move forward. With Old PDP and new PDP working together, we will deliver 26 State Assembly, nine House of Representatives and three senatorial seats.
“I will like to appeal those aspirants that their ambitions have been dashed, that they should stay put in the party that when their time come, it will never pass them”.
But, the Old PDP House of Representatives candidate for Akure South/North, Omolafe Adedayo said they embarked on their primaries due to the court judgement which recognised the delegates from the old PDP.
Adedayo insisted that the party executive was never dissolved by the national leaders of the party but alleged that some state executives of the party, including Alabi were forced to resign in order to pave way for Mimiko’s group.
He described the appointment of Faboyede as the new Chairman of the party as kangaro arrangement between some group of people.
“PDP is one and so far so good we have held our primaries across the state according to the guideline of the PDP. All the delegates and the authentic local government executives were in attendance. 69 of the delegates out of 87 were screened and I was the only candidate that got my clearance from the national PDP secretariat and this gave me the chance to emerge as the party candidate.
“The exercise went on smoothly, the police, and the INEC officials were on hand.
“The state executive has not been dissolved. They only pressurise some of our members to resign but the constitution is clearly stated that when such happens in the party, the other executive members will sit and select members from the areas where such leaders who resigned came from to replace him immediately.
“Not somebody from nowhere picking people for the seat. PDP is not a one man show party. There are existing judgements that guarantee the party chairmen, ward executives to conduct the primaries”.
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