Osun 2018: PDP Denies Conceding Ticket To Adeleke

By Ismaeel Uthman

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun, Hon Soji Adagunodo has denied the allegation that he has conceded the governorship ticket of the party to Senator Ademola Adeleke who is representing Osun West Senatorial District at the Senate.

Adagunodo said the allegation was unfounded and far from the truth, saying that the process for the gubernatorial primaries of the PDP has not started.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview on Wednesday, Adagunodo said it was unreasonable for anybody to allege or conclude that he wanted to manipulate the primary process in favour of a particular aspirant when the process was yet to start.

“How possible is that allegation when the process has not yet started. We have our party constitution and guidelines which we are yet to start implementing. Senator Ademola Adeleke just dropped his letter of intent on Tuesday. That allegation is unfounded”, he said.

He maintained that the PDP would follow the party’s constitution and guidelines for the conduct of the gubernatorial primaries, promising that all the governorship aspirants would be given a level playing ground.

Adagunodo also dismissed the insinuation that the PDP, Senator Adeleke and his brother Dr Deji Adeleke have penciled down the former commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Mr Sunday Akere as deputy governorship candidate of the party.

There were insinuations that the Adeleke family, PDP and a section of the aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had entered into an agreement to use Akere as a running mate to Senator Adeleke who is supposed to be the PDP flag bearer.

The PDP chairman while reacting to the matter said: “We would be happy to have as many as possible members of other parties to join us and some to collaborate with us to deliver Osun and send the APC packing in the state.

“But as I speak with you, Sunday Akere has not open discussion about him joining our party with me, not to talk of negotiating position with him.

“Please let me make it clear that what is paramount to us as a party now is to have an acceptable candidate as our flag bearer”.