Confusion reigned supreme on Wednesday as the People’s Democratic Party in Ogun State conducted its governorship primary in two different centres, and produced two candidates.
The one that held at Nigeria Union of Journalists, Press Centre, Iwe Irohin House, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta produced the Ex-spokesman of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation in 2019, Chief Segun Sowunmi as the governorship candidate.
While the one held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library complex produced a former member of the House Representatives, Oladipupo Adebutu as the governorship candidate.
Other contestants in that venue were ex-banker Jimi Lawal and Abimbola Abodunrin.
During the primary there was confusion at the venue over the right and authentic delegate list to be used.
The faceoff led to shoving and pushing by contenders as supporters of Adebutu and Lawal clashed over the list to be adopted for the primary.
This led to the exercise being halted temporarily following gunshots by supporters of the two candidates outside the venue of the event.
The exercise was supervised by a 5-man Electoral Committee from the national headquarters of the PDP headed by Prof. Akase Sorkaa.
Trouble had started shortly after the PDP electoral panel, headed by Sorkaa announced the mode of conduct of the exercise.
Some loyalists of Lawal raised an objection, rejecting a delegate list brought from the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, which led to a shouting match between supporters of Lawal and Adebutu.
One of the aides of Lawal, Austin Oniyokor, who brought some documents claiming to have been certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission, insisted that the exercise must not take place unless the said document was adopted.
The drama which lasted for over 30 minutes saw security operatives helpless, while INEC officials temporarily relocated from the hall.
“This exercise cannot be conducted with a fake list. These are INEC generated documents. These are your certified documents,” Oniyokor shouted while addressing INEC officials.
However, announcing the result of the election at 10:50p.m on Wednesday, Sorkaa declared that Adebutu polled 714 votes to defeat Sowunmi, Lawal and Abodunrin who all polled no vote.
In his acceptance speech, Adebutu said he was satisfied with the conduct of the exercise, adding that he was happy with his election as the candidate of the party.
He called on other contestants to close ranks with him in order to move the party forward and make the party a force reckon with in the state.
At the primary election held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre, the Returning Officer and Chairman Electoral Committee of the PDP governorship Congress, Hon. Abayomi Daniel announced that Sowunmi polled a total number of 554 votes to defeat his close rivals in the race, Otunba Jimi Lawal who polled 30 votes while Ladi Adebutu scored 15 votes.
Daniel added that Sowunmi scored the total votes from the 702 votes cast out of 728 accredited delegates’ list.
Abayomi said, “As a PDP national officer and by the power conferred on me by the national leadership of our party, Otunba Segun Anthony Sowunmi having polled the highest number of votes is hereby elected as the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun state for the 2023 governorship election.”
Obviously excited Sowunmi thanked the national leadership of the party, delegates for reposing their mandate and trust in him.
He equally commended members of his campaign team.
He said, “Well, I will thank God Almighty who has made today possible, I thank the delegates and members of my campaign team and leadership of the party. I am particularly happy that under a very peaceful atmosphere, we have complied with all other relevant laws, and I have emerged successfully the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun state.”
