By Dipo Olowookere
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has rubbished the party’s parallel governorship primary held in Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday August 29, 2016, by the Ali Modu Sheriff faction, describing the exercise as “a mere scam.”
In a statement signed by the Ondo PDP Publicity Secretary, Banji Okunomo, the party maintained that “the governorship primary election held on August 22, 2016 in Akure, Ondo State that produced Mr Eyitayo Jegede SAN as its flag bearer [remains] the only authentic one.”
The statement further stated that, “Apart from the fact that the so called primary election is illegal having been impeded by an Akure High Court, more than 99 percent of those who participated in the scam were hired into Premier Hotels, Ibadan, venue of the Congress, from nearby hubs of hoodlums and touts in the town.”
The Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the PDP in Ondo State, which held its primary in Ibadan, produced Jimoh Ibrahim as its flag bearer for the 2016 Ondo governorship election.
But the Ondo PDP said Section 25 of its constitution clearly stipulated “those who are eligible to participate in the State Governorship Primary Election of the PDP.”
“All the persons that fall in the various categories making up the Governorship Primary Election Congress had already participated in the Congress that produced Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as the flag bearer of the party.
“These persons cannot be impersonated and their roles in the electoral college cannot be replicated, duplicated or copied in whatever guise.
“It is also very important, at this juncture, to tell the whole world that Jimoh Ibrahim, the acclaimed candidate of the illegal parallel PDP primary is not a member of the PDP from ward to State level.
“Jimoh Ibrahim had publicly declared for the Accord Party and is yet to relinquish his membership of the Accord Party at any point in time.
“Also, Mr Ibrahim has not at any point in time followed the procedure necessary to rejoin the party.
“The PDP constitution is clear as regards the process of returning to the party after leaving.
“Cap 2, part 1 of the PDP constitution states that: “a person who desires to join the party after leaving it shall apply to his Ward Secretary for re-admission,” the statement said.
Ondo PDP further said, “It is not only illegal for a member of another party to pick the governorship ticket of the PDP but it also amounts to double standard.
“Hence, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has declared Jimoh Ibrahim a persona non grata.”
“We wish to call on all genuine members of the party whose minds were hitherto swayed to remain steadfast in the mainstream of the party under the leadership of Engr. Clement Faboyede.
“Let us all join hands together to work for the victory of our party’s candidate, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as the next governor of Ondo State,” the statement concluded.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Adedapo Adesanya