Only court can decide party’s candidate for Edo Poll – Ondo PDP aspirant

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Hon. Niran Sule-Akinsuyi at the weekend said the issue of candidacy of the party for Edo governorship election does not lie solely with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said only the court has the legitimate right to decide who should be the candidate of the party between Pastor Osagie Iyamu and Hon. Mathew Iduoriyekemwen.

Already, Iyamu from Ahmed Makarfi-led camp has been accepted as the party’s candidate for the September 10, poll, while Iduoriyekemen, who emerged as PDP from Sheriff’s faction has been ignored by INEC despite a court ruling, asking the commission to recognise only the candidate from Sheriff’s camp.

Akinsuyi, who was a former governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke to reporters in Akure, the state capital shortly after submitting his nomination form at the Secretariat of PDP faction loyal to Sheriff.

He noted that the recognition of Iyamu as PDP candidate by INEC may not stand as only the court has the right to determine the candidate of PDP in Edo.

His words, “the issue of recognition does not lie with INEC, it lies with the position of the law. The truth of the matter is that the law recognizes the Sheriff-led PDP”.

On why he left APC for PDP, Akinsuyi, who was a former Commissioner for Special Duties said he decided to join the PDP so as to get a viable political platform.

“It is a function of where the interest of the people of Ondo State lies and how to achieve it.

“As individuals, we believe that moving forward, as far as the 2016 election is concerned, we need a platform will allow us to shoulder common responsibilities and progress and development to our people.” Akinsuyi stated.

“The leaders of the APC today are the same people who left PDP some years ago. So all we need to do is to be sensitive to see where our interest as a people and as a state can be better protected.

“The same people that worked for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 were the same people who worked for President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in 2015.”

Sule, who maintained that PDP is the only party to beat in the November 26 guber election, pledged that his ambition is driven to make Ondo State the new economic power base of the nation if he was elected the next governor of the state.

The aspirant and the state party chairman under the Sheriff PDP-led faction, Mr. Biyi Poroye, reiterated that the party under the leadership of Sheriff will bring an end to impunity and recklessness in the party, which has been their major problem.

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