2023: Aspirants, Stakeholders Agree On Primary Election For Ibadan South East/North East Reps Seat Candidature

Aspirants for Federal House of Representatives for Ibadan South East/North East federal constituency, stakeholders and leaders under the oPeoples Democratic Party (PDP) have resolved to go into primary as they failed to reach a consensus on picking a candidate for the seat on Monday.

They also applauded Governor Seyi Makinde of the state and the Deputy National Chairman, PDP (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja for their verdict on the conduct of primary when the aspirants, leaders and stakeholders failed to reach a consensus.

It was gathered that aspirants, leaders and stakeholders from the constituency failed to agree on consensus at a meeting held in Ambassador Arapaja’s house on Monday.

We were informed that Governor Makinde has directed that there should be primary election anywhere they failed to agree on consensus candidature.

Those at the meeting included Engr Suleiman (World best), PDP Chairman Ibadan South East; Chief Banjo (IBSE PDP Vice Chairman); Akeem Alarape (IBSE PDP Financial Secretary); Alhaja Kemi (IBSE PDP Women leader); Aare Ajibi (IBSE PDP Youth Leader) and Pastor Emmanuel Alawode (IBSE LG Chairman).

Others were Hon Biodun Adedoja (Ekolo), former IBSE LG Chairman; Hon Popoola (Former Chairman IBSE LG); Hon Fatai Adesina, former state House of Assembly member; Alhaji Yusuf, (former IBSE PDP Chairman); Mogaji Abass Oloko, (PDP Leader); Alhaji Inakoju, (Former House of Assembly) member; Hon Fadipe (Former House of Assembly member); Alhaji Yekini Atoyebi (PDP Leader); Alhaji Hassan (PDP Leader); Pastor Adegoke (PDP Leader); Baba Olaoti (PDP Leader) and others.

The aspirants at the meeting included a United Kingdom-based Nigerian medical consultant, Kazeem Sina Olasupo, popularly known as KSO, Akeem Ige, Deji Aboderin, Laide Ali and others.

After a meeting at Ambassador Arapaja’s house on Monday afternoon, the aspirants agreed that the leaders of the party should allow them to test their popularity based on their political antecedents.

The aspirants also pledged their support for whoever emerges as the party’s candidate provided such is a product of primary election.

After the meeting at Arapaja’s house, they proceeded to government house to brief the governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde about the outcome.

At the government house, it was gathered that Governor Makinde emphatically told them that since they could not agree on consensus, they should go for primary election.

It was also gathered that the governor told them that he had no anointed candidate, and that they should go to the field to test their popularity.

While pledging their support for Governor Makinde, they thanked him for giving them the nod to go to the field to exercise their popularity.

“Since we cannot agree on consensus arrangement, we want to thank Governor Makinde and Ambassador Arapaja for allowing the wishes of the people to prevail because the governor is a product of democracy,” an aspirant said.

Speaking after the meeting, a leader and stalwart of the party from Ibadan South East, Alhaji Tiamiyu Abidikugu disclosed that Governor Seyi Makinde during the meeting at the Government house, told all the stakeholders that, where all the aspirants fail to go for consensus, they should go to the primary.

He applauded Governor Makinde for allowing the tenets of democracy to reign supreme, saying that with this act, the PDP will be victorious in the 2023 general elections.

Abidikugu maintained that after the meeting at the deputy national chairman’s house, the aspirants, leaders and stakeholders on Monday evening proceeded to the government house to brief the Governor on the outcome of the meeting.

He noted that Governor Makinde and Ambassador Arapaja have given their consent on the need to conduct primary elections as they failed to reach a consensus.

He stated that the governor told them that he had no anointed candidate but that all aspirants should participate in the primary election.

Abidikugu disclosed further that the Governor assured them that there would be level playing ground during the primary.

He however, said that considering this, they were awaiting the date of the primary election.

-Kunle Bakare.