Osun: Adeleke in Trouble as PDP Primary Lawsuit Threatens Guber Victory

By Adeleye Kunle

Concerns have been raised in Ademola Adeleke’s campaign team about the lawsuit filed by his opponent in the Peoples Democratic Party primary election, Dotun Babayemi, at the Akure Court of Appeal.
The PDP in Osun State held two governorship primaries on March 8, 2021, featuring Adeleke and Babayemi.

The primary election held at the Children and Women Development Center in Osogbo produced Babayemi, while the primary held at the Osogbo City Stadium under the supervision of Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, produced Adeleke.

Babayemi then went to the Federal High Court in Osogbo to be recognized as the PDP’s legitimate governorship candidate.

However, in a ruling by Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, the court upheld Adeleke as the duly elected governorship candidate of the Osun State PDP.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Babayemi filed a suit at the Court of Appeal in Akure, challenging the lower court’s decision and requesting that he be declared the PDP governorship candidate.

Some members of Adeleke’s group told Tracknews that the suit could jeopardize the PDP’s victory in last Saturday’s gubernatorial election, and that efforts are being made to reconcile with Babayemi.

Oluwabamiji, the Osun State PDP’s Director of Media, stated that everyone must come on board in order to have a smooth administration and deliver on their promises to the people of Osun State.

The party chieftain expressed hope that Babayemi would listen to the plea, adding that efforts are being made to appease the rival governorship candidate.

“My take is that any member of our party who is aggrieved is constituting some kind of danger, not to mention court cases,” Oluwabamiji said.

“Grief of major gladiators is enough to admit danger.” I’m sure our leaders aren’t sleeping on it. They are still talking to Prince Dotun Babayemi and other members of the party, oblivious to our election victory. We are always stronger when we work together. We don’t take anyone for granted.

“We believe that everyone should come on board now so that we can have a smooth administration and deliver on our promises to the good people of Osun State.” As a political party, you know we can’t do that on the basis of a sour relationship.

“Dotun Babayemi is a prince, and I’m sure the blue blood in his veins will speak to him.” We need some fresh air, which the good people of Osun State have provided by voting in the gubernatorial election.

“We are still attempting to communicate with him and manage the situation.” Distinctions cannot help anyone. We’ve seen what internal squabbles can do to a political party. We will not do anything that will expose us to other forces attempting to infiltrate.”

Meanwhile, Sunday Bisi, the Director General of the Adeleke Campaign Organisation, denied the existence of a factional governorship candidate in the party in another interview.

He pointed out that the Independent National Electoral Commission published the names of all political parties’ candidates, and they did not have two governorship candidates.

Bisi stated that calling someone a factional would be wrong and illegal, and that Adeleke is their sole candidate.

“We don’t have any factional candidates,” he said. The names of candidates from each political party had been published by INEC. There was no mention of two governorship candidates in the publication.

“So, saying someone is factional will be wrong and illegal; we do not have it again.” There is only one candidate, Ademola Adeleke. The party is made up of one indivisible component. The PDP does not have a faction. For the time being, I know PDP is one. And if anyone has approached a court of law, let the court decide.”

This article first appeared on Track News.