By Patience Ogbo/
There was palpable tension among members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos, yesterday, following the alleged imposition of candidates.
NewsmakersNG learnt that the anger stemmed from an alleged failure of the acting PDP state chairman, Dr Adegbola Dominic led executives, to hold a congress in Alimosho for the emergence of candidates for House of Representatives and state lawmakers.
Some aggrieved aspirants said although Congress did not hold in the LGA, Dr Dominic had allegedly handpicked his cronies and forwarded their names to the National PDP as the elected aspirants to represent the LGA.
In a petition seen by NewsmakersNG, eight aspirants vying for positions in the Federal House of Representatives and State Assembly respectively identified themselves as Hon. Abu Ojeikere, Hon. Olanrewaju Lateef, Hon. Uduomon Ohis, Hon. Adedipe Dauda Ewenla, Hon. Shina Babatunde and Hon. Ijimayowa Abbas. They expressed their anger over the alleged failure of Dr Dominic to hold a congress in Alimosho and the imposition of candidates to represent the party.
Alhaji Modius Oladega, one of the aggrieved aspirants said, “I paid N650, 000 to purchase form for the House of Assembly under the PDP in Alimosho Constituency 02. According to the party’s guideline, we are supposed to have a Congress so that a person will emerge the winner in a free and fair election. We were waiting for the Congress to hold but, to my surprise, somebody called me that they are the elected aspirants. Unfortunately, no Congress has taken place; but the acting state chairman, Dr Dominic, without recourse to the local government PDP chairman, sat down and selected some names for reasons best known to him and said they are the elected ones. This is not democracy; this is killing democracy. We, the aspirants are appealing to the National PDP chairman to reject the names sent by Dr Dominic as the elected aspirants from Alimosho LGA. We want a Congress to hold in Alimosho LGA like it held in other LGAs.”
Another aggrieved aspirant, Mr Uduomon Uhis, said, “I am contesting for the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alimosho Constituency 02. I paid N660, 000 for the form but instead of a congress to be held for a free and fair election to produce candidates, the acting chairman Dr Adegbola Dominic sat in his bedroom and handpicked some names, which he sent to the national PDP as the aspirants to represent Alimosho LGA. We, the aspirants are calling on the National PDP to reject the names they have received and call for a Congress in Alimosho LGA.”
Mr Olanrewaju Lateef, a contestant for the Federal House of Representatives also expressed his grievance. He said, “I bought my form for N1.7 million. No congress held in Alimosho LGA. What we have is an imposition of candidates. I want a Congress to take place and when a winner emerges, the losers will work with the winner and the party. I am calling on the national PDP to reject the names they have received and conduct the Congress.”
Mr Olayinka Dada a PDP chieftain in Alimosho expressed sadness over the alleged imposition of candidates. He said, “I am a foundation member of PDP in Alimosho and a former secretary. It is sad that this is the first time since 1999 that Congress will not hold in Alimosho.
“Alimosho LGA has political weight and no politician should toy with Alimosho LGA. A Congress should be held and all aspirants are given level playing field. Instead, Dr Dominic without consulting any leader in Alimosho sat down and handpicked some names which he sent to the national PDP as the elected ones. These names should be rejected and a congress should be conducted.”
It was alleged that Dr Dominic mandated the handpicked candidates to pay into his Zenith Bank account number – 1005034407, a sum of N250, 000 and N500, 000 for House of Assembly and the House of Representatives respectively.
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