The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State faces internal pressure from its members over the “imposition of a government candidate” ahead of the local government election scheduled for April 23, 2015.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State faces internal pressure from its members over the “imposition of a government candidate” ahead of the local government election scheduled for April 23, 2015.
The distraught Party members, mainly from Ifedore Local Government Area (LGA), are claiming that disgruntled leaders under the leadership of Governor Olusegun Mimiko are causing disaffection and panic within the Party by working with some traditional rulers to impose a candidate upon the people.
Many of the “panic-stricken loyalists” picketed the local rulers in the council area and accused them of imposing the current chairman of the council, Olaniran Wemimo, on the Party as the chairmanship candidate of the PDP in the upcoming election.
The aggrieved members jointly condemned this imposition and noted it was against the Party’s “united decision” to anoint Temitope Komolafe as the Party’s choice. The group added that no one can impose a candidate or divide the members for selfish gains.
A source within the Party informed SaharaReporters that Mr. Wemimo was using his connections to Governor Mimiko to emerge as the Party’s candidate.
The source hinted that Mr. Wemino was not ready for the Party primary election. Therefore, his imposition on the PDP by the traditional rulers is nothing but an attempt by them to continue enjoying the goodwill of the Governor.
Last week, SaharaReporters learned that the angered members of the Party protested at the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Fiwasaye road in Akure, the State capital. Many carried placards their march shut down traffic on the busy road.
Another source disclosed that all members of the Party had agreed that the leadership should allow an honest primary election in order to produce a qualified candidate.
“They [PDP leadership] are only looking for war and we shall bring it to them. Nobody will be allowed to impose a candidate on us.
“This is unfair and out of play if truly the party is preaching internal democracy, why would someone be working with the traditional chiefs to impose a candidate for the people because they are on the pay-roll of the governor,” the source stated.
The source went on to note that areas such as the Igbara Oke community have been ignored by the PDP leadership. An honest primary election, according to the source, would mean areas such as the Igbara Oke community would receive the attention they deserve.
The upcoming elections have also generated tumult amongst the Ifedore, Akure South, Akoko, and Okitipupa areas.
Recently, political pundits in the State have come out against conducting the elections as they believe the crises within the PDP would cause a heavy crisis for any successive government.
An independent investigation by SaharaReporters revealed that many of the 18 LGA chairmen appointed by Governor Mimiko did not want to lose their seats. They, therefore, have been lobbying the Party’s leadership with cash payments in order to be imposed on the people.