Allegations of Delegate List Manipulation in Ekiti State PDP Primaries
As the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) prepares for its governorship primaries in Ekiti State, one of the candidates, Mrs. Funmilayo Ogun, has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the delegate list used for the election. According to Ogun, there are indications that the list has been manipulated, potentially undermining the democratic process.
During a press briefing at her campaign office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Ogun expressed her frustration and disappointment. She claimed that forces within the party are working against her political ambitions. Ogun pointed out that the delegates who were elected during the last ad hoc congress, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), have allegedly been removed from the current list and replaced with unfamiliar names.
She stated, “We thought it was a joke until the early hours of this morning when the list was officially released. I was shocked to discover that even in my own ward, where I am a delegate, my name was completely removed.”
Ogun further explained that this issue is not isolated to her ward but has occurred in several other areas across the state. She suggested that the actions taken are driven by fear of her being a woman. “They are so afraid of me being a woman that they went as far as changing the entire list of my local government, Ido/Osi LGA, and even removed my name from the delegate list of my ward.”
Despite these challenges, Ogun emphasized that she does not have powerful godfathers or financial backing. “I don’t have godfathers or ‘former this, former that’ backing me. I also don’t have smoked dollars to bribe anyone, but I have the overwhelming support of the grassroots and party faithful across all 16 local government areas of the state.”
She added, “That’s why they are resorting to underhanded tactics. Let them release the right list and meet me on the field, I will defeat all of them put together.”
Ogun is determined to break the long-standing tradition in Nigeria where no woman has ever been elected governor. “Since the beginning of this democratic era, no woman has ever been elected governor in Nigeria. I am determined to change that narrative through due process. But what they are doing now is an attempt to shut me out.”
She urged the new INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan SAN, to ensure transparency by not sending officials to monitor the primaries if the delegate list is compromised. “Prove to Nigerians that you are ready to be a neutral and unbiased umpire by boycotting any primary that does not use the list of delegates that emerged from the ad-hoc congress observed by INEC. Your presence at the congress was not for mere formality but to give credibility to the process.”
Key Points Raised by Ogun
- Ogun claims the delegate list for the PDP primaries in Ekiti State has been manipulated.
- She alleges that delegates from the last ad hoc congress have been removed and replaced with unfamiliar names.
- Ogun believes the manipulation is motivated by fear of her as a female candidate.
- She emphasizes that she does not have financial backing or powerful supporters but has strong grassroots support.
- Ogun calls on INEC to ensure transparency and neutrality in the primaries.