OSUN PDP GUBER TICKET: Ogunbiyi insists on fighting Adeleke

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for September 2018 governorship election in Osun State, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, has said he did not sign any agreement with the disputed winner of the governorship ticket in the state, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

According to Ogunbiyi, who is contesting the result of the state PDP primary election, he is still very much in the race and has not abandoned his decision to get the mandate of the party to contesting the governorship election.

It would be recalled that Dr Ogunbiyi narrowly lost the governorship ticket to Senator Adeleke at the keenly contested primary. He protested the outcome, insisting that the process was manipulated.

The PDP appeal committee however rejected his appeal and forwarded the name of Senator Adeleke to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

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Reacting to stories making the rounds that he had abandoned the struggle to validate what he says is his stolen mandate, Dr. Ogunbiyi said in a statement by his campaign organization: “The attention of Dr Akin Ogunbiyi has been drawn to a misinformation going round that Dr Akin Ogunbiyi has signed an agreement and withdrawn for Senator Ademola Adeleke.

“We wish to put the records straight. Shortly after the gubernatorial primary election the National Working Committee of our great party met and decided on appropriate compensation to assuage Dr Ogunbiyi and his teeming supporters for the general elections.

“At another NWC meeting of 29th July, 2018 led by the Party National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus with the following in attendance: Dr Ogunbiyi, Senator Adeleke, Osun BoT members led by Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Dr Olu Alabi and Erelu- Obada, all the co-aspirants that stepped down for him; the National Chairman presented the terms of settlement to Senator Adeleke.

“He remarked that given the circumstances of the primary election, the offer in the wisdom of the leadership was “fair and equitable” in resolving the on-going crisis. The key decision points were that the Deputy Governor slot will be ceded to Dr Akin Ogunbiyi group and West Senatorial ticket be automatically conceded to Dr Akin Ogunbiyi himself.

“Our Distinguished Senator concurred to the agreement with a promise to get Hon. Adeogun to resign and requested for three names out of which his group will make a choice in replacement.

“A list of three candidates was submitted. 48 hours after, in spite of his commitment, Hon Adeogun didn’t relinquish the position indicating that Senator Ademola Adeleke’s group have not yielded to the terms of the reconciliation as put forward by the National leadership of the Party.

“At the instance of the National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus, Dr Ogunbiyi and Senator Adeleke had another meeting on the night of 2nd August, 2018 with a BoT member to conclude on the issue.

“The Senator gave a firm promise to be honourable and get Hon Adeogun’s resignation. The Senator in fact requested the intervention of the Party leadership to prevail on Hon Adeogun on this issue.

“A joint press conference was agreed to be addressed by Dr Ogunbiyi and Senator Adeleke at the meeting for the following day. Only for the Hon Adeogun to go underground and become incommunicado!

“As at the time of this release, Hon Adeogun has neither resigned nor sighted anywhere. No agreement has been signed by Dr Akin Ogunbiyi with anyone. Dr Ogunbiyi has stated in clear terms that he is not leaving the Party under any circumstances.”

 

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