By Ismaeel Uthman
THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun is currently enmeshed with internal wrangling on the governorship ticket of the party for the July 16, 2022 election.
Six gubernatorial aspirants were last week screened by the party.
But contrary to the expectations of some PDP members, the screening committee refused to disqualify any of the aspirants, a development that has been generating controversies in the party.
In its report, the committee said it did not disqualify any of the aspirants, in spite of the petitions against them.
The committee noted that all the aspirants were eminently qualified to fly the flag of the party in the forthcoming election.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that members of the party had submitted petitions to the committee against the 2018 governorship candidate of the party, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, his arch rival, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade and Mr. Bamidele Adeleke.
Only Hon. Sanya Omirin and Dotun Babayemi had no petition before the screening committee.
It was gathered that about four petitions were submitted against Ademola Adeleke. The petitions centered on his academic qualification and competence with the sole prayer to disqualify him from contesting the party’s ticket.
According to the panel, there were four petitions against Ademola Adeleke which centred on his eligibility and alleged multiple identities and submission of false information by him.
The panel explained that another petitioner also called for the disqualification of the senator in a petition entitled: “The excess baggage and plethora of litigation hanging on the neck of Sen Ademola Adeleke and the implications for the coming elections in Osun State: A stitch in time.”
In its conclusion, the screening committee said that the petitions against Adeleke were speculative, adding that the “entire subject matter had been determined by the court and the aspirant discharged and acquitted.
According to the report, there were two petitions against Mr. Bamidele Adeleke, stating that the petitioners accused him of not being a bonafide member of the party as his membership registration was not signed by the Ward Chairman and Secretary in Ede South Local Government, and creating parallel structure in wards and local government.
According to the report, Akinbade was accused of polarising the party by setting up parallel structures in wards.
In its report, the panel noted that the petition “was not accompanied by any supporting evidence or document to support the claim.”
Ogungbiyi, according to the report, had three petitions bordering on anti-party activities and misleading the general public.
But the committee dismissed the allegations, describing them as “spurious.”
OSUN DEFENDER learnt that some PDP members have forwarded fresh petitions against Sen. Ademola Adeleke and Ogunbiyi to the Appeal Committee.
The Appeal Committee which was supposed to sit on Wednesday, did not sit.
Findings by the medium revealed that the Appeal Committee may sit on Monday, January 24.
It was gathered that leaders of the party within and outside the state were making efforts to ensure that PDP has a united house before the election to avoid litigation.
However, the Adeleke dynasty of the PDP has been divided with the expression of governorship ambition of Mr. Bamidele Adeleke, a nephew to Senator Ademola Adeleke.
Bamidele Adeleke was the PDP agent during the final collation of results at Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in the 2018 governorship election. He was also the Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1) during the election petition tribunal on the outcome of the poll.
His ambition apparently did not go down well with Dr. Deji Adeleke, the breadwinner of the dynasty who is also said to be Bamidele’s benefactor.
This is evident in the reaction of popular Nigerian hip-hop artiste, David Adeleke, known as Davido, who has called out Bamidele Adeleke on the social media over his ambition.
On his official twitter handle, Davido who is Deji’s son condemned Bamidele Adeleke for declaring to contest against his uncle, Senator Demola Adeleke.
Some of Davido’s tweets reads: “Wonderful! I finished university with a 2:1. But it’s now cousin Bamidele who struggled to even get a 2:2 that is now forming “intellectual”. Intellectual that has not succeeded in building one single thing in his life on his own. This life ehn! Osun Beware of FAKES!
“Worst of all this Nigga really doing all this from the house my father gave you! Audacity! Disrespect me! (I don’t care) But my FATHER my MOTHER Never! DELE I WILL STRESS YOU! We go meet for field ….”
In his reaction, Dele Adeleke also tweeted: “For whatever this is worth to you, please note that I lost my mother at a tender age like you and would never allow anyone to denigrate her nor her memory. I will NEVER write nor say anything against my Auntie Vero, who I cherish dearly….
“You are the king of social media & you definitely know people take it upon themselves to write whatever they believe will give them clout. So many of your fans came to my SM handles to threaten me and some even asked me to go and die. Did you send them to threaten my life? I seriously doubt it and I do not believe you will do such thing.
“So, irrespective of politics, please note that I am not that kind of person; I have maintained decorum in the face of provocation and I will continue to do so. I respect your decision and choice to support Uncle Demola and that is the beauty of democracy.
“It is possible we can all make our individual choices without rancour and bitterness. We can all follow different paths and still live as one big, happy family.
“The people of Osun, greatly deserving the best, will give the job to who they so deem fit and may the #Best man win #OSUN2022. You will always remain dear to me.”
