INEC declares Kashamu PDP guber candidate in Ogun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Buruji Kashamu as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state.

The commission announced this in the final list of governorship candidates released on Thursday.

Ladi Adebutu and Kashamu had been at loggerheads over the governorship ticket of the PDP in the state.

The PDP is backing Adebutu whom it handed over the party’s flag as its candidate last year but Kashamu who belongs to another faction insisted he was the authentic flagbearer of the party and INEC eventually recognised candidates in Kashamu’s camp to participate in the upcoming elections.

The PDP recently called on the commission to drop Kashamu’s name and substitute it with that of Adebutu.

The party made reference to an appeal court ruling which it said identified Adebutu as its authentic candidate in the state.

A statement from the party had read: “The PDP cautions the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to insulate the commission from unnecessary controversies by immediately obeying the judgment of the Court of Appeal of December 18, 2018, and without further delay reflect Hon. Ladi Adebutu’s name on the ballot, in the interest of a hitch free and peaceful election in Ogun state.

“The PDP states that Hon. Ladi Adebutu’s name was duly and statutorily submitted to INEC after he won the governorship primary conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC), the only body empowered by law to conduct such primaries. The PDP has not substituted his nomination with anybody and such is not in our contemplation.”

Reuben Abati, a seasoned journalist, is Kashamu’s running mate.