A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Mogaji Kayode Ogunsola has declared that though he was excluded from today’s primary elections in Oyo State, there is no ill-feeling, despite the fact that he had met all requirements.
In a Press Conference he just hosted in Ibadan, Ogunsola clarified that he did not lose the election having had his name shockingly struck out of the list 24 hours to the elections due to what he called blackmail allegedly orchestrated by some aspirants.
“We can’t continue like this faulty and scandalous process and expect to see a Nigeria which will be respected internationally. But I need to say it with more emphasis that I am not aggrieved because the exercise is a joke and a comedy stunt before international community and foreign investors,” he said.
Ogunsola, who commended the party leadership including the Board of Trustees, assured that he would not seek a redress, he would remain a committed member of the party and stay by his numerous supporters who are equally disillutioned by the development.
“Go and do your findings. I am not a greenhorn; I am a grassroots politician. I have my mass of supporters who have been with me since I expressed my interest. They have invested their faith in me, hence my confidence in stepping forward and contesting for the primary,” he said.
He charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review its operational framework with a view to preventing the likes of his experience, saying the body “needs to be much more specific and prescriptive on how party primaries are conducted.”
Ogunsola stressed that “The law currently prescribes two modes for conducting Party Primaries: A–Consensus and B–Direct Primaries. We have seen on social media how Direct Primaries have been conducted. We see how counting has been done. In many cases accreditation is skipped. This isn’t good for the system. It needs to be improved.
“I believe INEC can specify how verifiable Party Primaries should be conducted, from end to end. Also I believe we should look to deploy simple technology for Party Primaries. We can do better and we must.”
He said, “it is in the common interest of all aspirants to ensure that we submit ourselves to an open, transparent and equitable process. aspirants should seek to win primaries as a true test of their acceptability…We should let the members decide. There is honestly no merit in winning a contest without credible contestants.”
He further said, “Service to the people, the end result of politics is governance. We need leaders that can deliver for the people. Our people need jobs, make living wages, enjoy good healthcare and an improvement in living standards.
“That is what we at Óseése are committed to. We in the Óseése Movement will continue to work on delivery of service that will be for the benefit of the good people of Oyo State. God bless Oyo State, God bless you all. God bless Nigeria.”
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