Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole has declared that he is still in the race to emerge as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun state. thenewsnigeria.com reports.
Bankole spoke through his campaign team, Dimeji Bankole Movement (DBM) in a statement distributed to journalists, signed by its Public Relations Officer, Hon. Kayode Akintunde.
The group flayed the conduct of the PDP primary election in the state on Monday, accusing the state chapter of the party of disobeying the order from the National Working Committee that the election should not hold.
The Ogun PDP had conducted its primaries and congresses which resulted in the emergence of the former governorship candidate of the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, in the 2011 election in the State, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka as the party’s candidate for next year’s governorship election. Prince Isiaka is a well-known stooge of ex-governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
The statement claimed that a decision reached in Abuja last week, at a meeting between the National Working Committee of the PDP, Bankole, Daniel and party financier, Prince Buruji Kashamu where they reportedly resolved that the primary election in the state be suspended until certain issues are reolved.
The statement read: “The Dimeji Bankole Movement has expressed shock over the purported primary elections conducted by some leaders in the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Ogun State despite the decisions reached on Sunday with the leadership of the party in Abuja.
“The meeting had the National Working Committee, led by Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu and Rt. Hon Dimeji Bankole, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Prince Buruji Kashamu in attendance certain certain decisions were taken.
“It was resolved at the meeting that Monday’s gubernatorial primary should be put on hold pending the time all issues are resolved. All the purported primaries earlier conducted declared null and void. That no member should query or challenge the decision of the NWC in the court and finally that the party will make a decision that will be fair and acceptable to the three leaders by Monday.
“It is however unfortunate that despite the agreement reached on the said date, some people still went ahead to conduct the primaries. Their decisions have clearly showed that they are invariably working for the downfall of the party in the forthcoming polls as well as cause confusion within members of the party and disaffection between two political districts in Ogun State.
“We use this medium to call the attention of the party members that Senator Isa Mohammed led Electoral Panel for Ogun State (Returning Officer for Ogun State governorship Elections) has not been mobilized by the Party’s headquarters.
“The Dimeji Bankole Movement wish to commend the National Working Committee of our great Party for standing by the truth and promoting rule of law in the administration of the Party. We wish to state that DIMEJI BANKOLE GOVERNORSHIP PROJECT is still very much on course. However, we appeal to our teeming supporters and Party followers to remain calm,”the statement reads in part’”.
The National Working Committee of the PDP had earlier nullified all the primary elections conducted in the state.
It is believed that Bankole is the preferred candidate of President Jonathan and the president is hell-bent on giving him the Ogun PDP governorship ticket.
It will be recalled that the Chairman of the PDP in Ogun state, Chief Bayo Dayo recently announced that Bankole is not one of the aspirants contesting for the governorship primary in the party.
