A recommendation by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elders from the South-West, of three aspirants with one of them to be chosen as a consensus candidate for national chairman has triggered a major uproar.
The three contestants technically endorsed by PDP Board of Trustees (BoT)caucus from the zone are Professor Taoheed Adedoja; Professor Tunde Adeniran and Chief Olabode George.
The others contenders, a former Oyo State governor, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja; Chief Akintayo Akin-Deko, Professor Wale Oladipo, and Mr Jimi Agabje, according to the BoT members, however, can still go ahead with their individual aspirations, if they so wished.
Ladoja, who was contacted by Sunday Tribune on the action of the Bot members, said it was a hoax, as he was not aware that the BoT members consulted with the contestants.
Chief Ladoja, who described the action as one that will not stand said the position represented the opinion Chief Oyedokun and others in his group and not the view of the leaders of the party in the South-West and beyond.
Ladoja, who had been a BoT member of the PDP prior to his governorship tenure of Oyo State between 2003 and 2007, said Oyedokun and his group were free to express their personal opinion on issues, adding that he remains the aspirant to beat in the contest.
While reacting to the purported endorsement another contestant, Chief Gbenga Daniel said that the people who wrote the said report had no locus standi to shortlist any aspirant from the South West, contesting for the national chairmanship seat.
Daniel, in a statement, by his media aide, Ayo Giwa, said he could not speak on the said report, saying that the only person that has the capacity to speak on issues relating to the party is the Southwest chairman, Chief Eddy Olafeso.
The statement read: “We do not know the author(s) of such letter as there’s no authentic source attached. The people who wrote such a letter have no locus. This is a national election and Eddy Olafeso is the Southwest chairman and the one to speak with the media. In which capacity are they then talking?
“We are yet to hear any report of such and cannot react to a story that is yet to be authenticated. Chief Daniel is meeting with the stakeholders of PDP and delegates up north as we speak and haven’t heard about such development. The new PDP is a party where internal democracy works and if there’s any development of such, it won’t be hidden to the aspirants, everybody would be in the know. Chief Gbenga Daniel is very much on the field and in the race for chairmanship of the party.”
According to the document, the caucus picked Chief Bode George to represent Ogun-Lagos axis, Prof Taoheed Adedoja from Osun-Oyo axis and Professor Tunde Adeniran from. Ekiti and Ondo axis respectively.
The caucus said that its action was based on the following:
“Numerous calls and wise counsel from several quarters to prune down the number of contestants to manageable number.
“The need to improve the chance of South West to clinch the position of the national chairman of the party at the convention
“Reduce tension, rancour and friction that may arise before, during and after the convention among the winner and other contestants.
“Assist the voting process on the election day.
“Reduce expenditure for non-recommended contestants.
“Present manageable list of contestants from the South West to compete favourably with any other contestant(s) from any other Zone(s) from the south.
