Osun 2018: 7 Aspirants Withdraws As PDP Holds Gubernatorial Primary

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Osun 2018: 7 Aspirants Withdraws As PDP Holds Gubernatorial Primary

No fewer than seven aspirants withdrew from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary held in Osogbo Saturday.

Over 3,000 delegates drawn from the 30 local government area including Ife East area office participated in the exercise.

Aspirants who participated in the race were the former Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Fatai Akintade Akinbade, the incumbent Senator representing Osun West, Sen. Nurudeen Adeleke, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mr Nathaniel Oke.

Those who announced their withdrawal from the primary included the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly,  Hon. Adejare Bello, Prof. Adeolu Durotoye, Engr. Jide Adeniji, Sen. Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, Mr Ayoade Adewopo, Mr Lere Oyewumi and Chief Felix Ogunwale.

The aspirants said that they stepped down from the race due to appeal from the party’s leadership and also to ensure cohesion and peace within the party.

Addressing the delegates, Gov. Seriake Dickson, who is the chairman of the gubernatorial primary election committee assured them of a free, fair and credible exercise.

Dickson urged all the aspirants to support whosoever emerged as the winner of the primary.

The exercise witnessed heavy security presence, yet loyalists of the aspirants who were not allowed into the voting venue constitutes threat to peace within the environment.

Voting was still in progress as at the time of filling this reports while counting of votes would commence immediately after voting was completed.

Any aspirant who won the primary in PDP will contend with Mr Gboyega Oyetola, who emerged as the state governorship candidate on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).

Oyetola, who is Gov. Aregbesola’s Chief of Staff, scored 127,017 votes to clinch the party’s ticket through direct primary election.