Ondo: Anxiety in PDP over INEC deadline for  candidate

By Taiwo Amodu and Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

Ahead of next month’s Ondo State governorship election, there is anxiety in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s position on the party’s authentic flagbearer.
INEC is also expected to make public, a list of candidates for other political parties in the November governorship poll.
Daily Sun gathered that there is also anxiety in the camp of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi, factional chairmen of the main opposition party in the country, over which of the candidates who emerged at the parallel primaries would be recognised by INEC.
On Thursday, INEC is expected to decide whether to stick to the name on its initial list, Eyitayo Jegede, the candidate who emerged at the primary organised by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction of the party or substitute it with the name of business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim, in deference to a court order.
The latter, who belongs to the Sheriff faction emerged at a primary conducted in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja had, in an order, restated an earlier pronouncement which accorded legitimacy to the Sheriff leadership and declared that Ibrahim is the authentic candidate of the party for the Ondo election, having emerged at the primary organised by the Senator Sheriff faction.
In an earlier judgment of June 29, Justice Abang had ordered INEC to only accept the name of candidate submitted by Biyi Poroye and Ademola Genty, factional chairman and secretary, respectively, in Ondo state chapter of the party.
It was further gathered that efforts to placate Ibrahim by certain stakeholders of the party have since been rebuffed. A party source said Ibrahim’s claim to the party ticket in Ondo may have jeopardised a peace deal to resolve the leadership tussle rocking the party.
INEC spokesperson, Oluwole Osaze- Uzzi however told Daily Sun, yesterday, that no decision has been reached on the authentic PDP candidate for Ondo governorship election.
“In few days time, we shall publish the list. So, it is too early to speculate.” Asked if Jimoh Ibrahim has been substituted for Jegede, he insisted a final decision would be taken in few days time.
“That’s mere speculation. Honestly, I am not aware of that. We shall soon publish the list of all the candidates in few days time,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim is insisting he remains the authentic candidate of the party in the election.
He also alleged in a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, which he made available to journalists that INEC’s acting Legal Adviser , Mrs O. O. Babalola demanded $1 million bribe from him, to process the court judgement which declared him PDP candidate.
Ibrahim stated this yesterday in a press briefing in Abuja and also noted it is only the Appeal Court that can reverse his candidature.
The petition, dated October 21, 2016 urged President Buhari to direct the Department of State Services to investigate the issue.
Regardless, he said the suit, in which a Federal High Court, in Abuja, ordered INEC to accept his nomination as the PDP candidate in the Ondo governorship poll predates the leadership crisis in the party.
He said the electoral body had said it would obey the court judgement immediately it was served.
In a swift response, Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi dismissed the allegation.
“It is not true that Mrs Babalola demanded bribe from Jimoh Ibrahim. Two other officials of INEC witnessed the encounter between Mrs Babalola and Jimoh Ibrahim…
Jimoh Ibrahim brought a copy of his judgement and wanted to impress it on INEC to collect it.  But we told him that we already have it.  It is incharitable and ungodly of businessman of his stature to make this kind of allegation.”
The business mogul, however, said immediately INEC was served the judgement, the music changed.
“After service on them, the music changed. INEC should not allow one governor to destroy its reputation.
“We are not saying that INEC will not obey the court judgement…”
The PDP chieftain also demanded the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, insisted he is a card-carrying member of the party. Jimoh reiterated he cannot be trusted to conduct a free and fair election in the state.