BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
There was heavy security presence in Osogbo, capital of Osun State as the Peoples Democratic Party is currently holding parallel primaries ahead of the July 16 governorship election in the state.
As early as 8:30am on Tuesday, delegates, adorned in ‘ankara uniform’ had arrived Osogbo Township Stadium to participate in the primary which was said to have been organised for the camp supporting Senator Ademola Adeleke, one of the two leading aspirants in the party.
Out of the six governorship aspirants who had initially declared their interest in the party’s ticket, three of them, including Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi and Dele Adeleke had reportedly stepped down for their consensus candidate, Prince Dotun Babayemi.
A statement issued on behalf of the PDP elders’ caucus, said the elders endorsed Babayemi and that he should be supported by all other aspirants in the race.
The statement signed by the factional chairman of the party, Wale Ojo, further read, “on behalf of Osun State party executives, BOT members, apex party leaders and the entire members of our party in the state, after a painstaking deliberation of the elders of the party and in preparation for the state congress to elect the gubernatorial candidate of our party slated to hold on 8th march 2022, it was unanimously agreed that Prince Dotun Babayemi should fly the flag of the party in the impending state congress.
“This decision is with the full backing and concurrence of other aspirants in attendance, who are also eminently qualified to occupy the exalted position.”
Meanwhile, the camp supporting Babayemi gathered at WOCDIF in Osogbo as early as 9:00am for primary.
2018 governorship candidate of the party, Senator Ademola Adeleke is coming up against Prince Dotun Babayemi and Sanya Ominrin for the ticket.
Meanwhile, as part of security measures, the Obafemi Awolowo Way was blocked from traffic as soldiers were seen moving around the vicinity.
There was also an unusually large security presence of operatives of State Security Service, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, men of Road Safety Corps and operatives of Amotekun corps, at the entrance to the Osogbo Township Stadium as people going in were made to identify themselves.
Traders in the facemask and party insignia also used the opportunity of the convergence of large number of people to make brisk business, selling their wares to party supporters going into the venue.
As at the time of filing this report, the party was yet to disclose the primary committee from the national body that would supervise the two primaries.
