In view of the contrived confusion foisted on aspirants and party loyalists as it affect the primary election for Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, it has become pertinent to lay bare the facts, avail our party leadership and constituents an update and point out the dire consequences of not conducting the primary election.
Facts
Nine(9) aspirants were screened, cleared and eligible to participate in the primary election
3rd day of October, 2018 was the scheduled date for the election
Aspirants and delegates converged at Prestige Hotel, Kabba; the designated Venue for the election on the said date
Delegates and aspirants waited sixteen (16) hours from 8am to 12 midnight but did not see party officials assigned to conduct the exercise and no justifiable reason was communicated for their absence and inability to conduct the primary election
Delegates and aspirants dispersed after information was received that the primary election has been shifted to 7am on 4th October, 2018 for security considerations in view of the time to avoid apprehension
At about 1.30am news filtered out that party officials led by Bode Ogunmola, Kogi State PDP Publicity Secretary were at the Venue conducting accreditation of delegates
Only 7 out of 337 delegates were on ground at the time other aspirants arrived the venue with delegates they were able to contact
This attempted electoral heist was rebuffed with protests and when Hon. T.J Yusuf realized the ploy was not going to fly, the thugs that came with him started sporadic shooting to ensure the primary election did not hold. Thiis forced the officials to abscond on the premise of insecurity and alleged threats to their lives
Incident was reported at Kabba Divisional Police Headquarters where it was confirmed that the Police and other security agencies were not invited to provide security coverage for the event
Hon. T. J. Yusuf after the mayhem and aborted primary election caused to be published that he has won the primary election. The online publication to this effect was retracted after the blogger realized he was misled. There can be no winner or loser in a contest that never held
When confronted on 4th October, 2018 in Lokoja, Mr. Bode Ogunmola who is also the Returning Officer for the election confirmed there was no election for Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituenc
Inferences
It is safe to deduce that
What played out was a sinister plot, to criminally conduct a kangaroo primary election in the absence of other aspirants by deliberately appearing after midnight thinking other aspirants will not know
There was a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise 330 delegates
There is an obvious collaboration between one aspirant and obviously compromised party officials saddled with the responsibility of conducting the primary election to confer unfair advantage on a particular aspirant to the detriment of other aspirants
The deliberate evasive disposition of Bode Ogunmola that has made conduct of the primary election impossible is a ploy to run down the clock considering the expiration of submission of party's candidates to INEC
The summation of the aforementioned is a deliberate attempt to foist Hon. T. J Yusuf on us by tactically ensuring the primary election did not hold.
Prayers
Immediate conduct of a free, fair, transparent and credible primary election for Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency to enable a candidate emerge that will truly reflect the wishes and aspirations of majority of delegates
Reconstitution of a new Election Committee composed of persons of impeccable character to conduct the primary election during the day
Provision of adequate security for the primary election to deter those who might intend to unleash mayhem and disrupt the exercise
Urgent decisive and punitive actions should be taken against the perpetrators of the attempted midnight electoral robbery
Conclusion
It is rather sad to see the level certain individuals have sunk in their desperation to unlawfully appropriate a mandate.
Power truly belongs to the people and any plan to pervert the people's wishes is outrageous and condemnable
At this critical stage in our great party's, PDP to reposition itself for success in the 2019 elections, old attributes that have been inimical to the party's interest must be jettisoned
Until and unless the primary election is held urgently, the resulting crisis will reduce the chances of the party in the 2019 election
We remain resolute on our insistence that the primary election must not only hold but be conducted in adherence to due process
We understand that by INEC's timetable, the deadline for all political parties to submit their lists of candidates is 7th October, 2018 and we await the decision of our party leadership on how we can escape this obvious quagmire.
Signed:
Salman Idris
Sunday. O. Adeleye
Okesuji Obatoyinbo
Hon. Taiwo Nathaniel
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