Confusion deepened in Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party on Monday on who is exactly the governorship candidate of the party: Senator Buruji Kashamu or Oladipupo Adebutu?

Last Friday, the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus presented the party’s flag to Adebutu and said he is the authentic candidate of the party.

But 72 hours after, Senator Buruji Kashamu, whose PDP faction of the Bayo Dayo-led faction claims to be the authentic and legal PDP in the state also organised a flag ceremony in Ijebu-Igbo, shown live on television.

Buruji and his running mate, Dr. Reuben Abati were presented to the crowd.

Abati addressed the crowd and urged the supporters to support Buruji as the PDP governorship candidate. He said Buruji would run a pro-masses, pro-poor government.

The other faction of PDP headed by Sikirullahi Ogundele roots for Oladipupo Adebutu, who was recognised by the national body of PDP.

The Bayo-Dayo faction first submitted Adeleke Shittu as the party’s governorship candidate, before substituting him with Buruji Kashamu in November.

The electoral umpire in accepting the list submitted by Dayo faction cited subsisting court judgments which recognised the faction.

This was also the crux of the riposte of Buruji to Uche Secondus, following the latter’s recognition of Adebutu.

“As the National Chairman of an opposition and pan-Nigeria political party, Prince Secondus is supposed to be a leader and the alter ego of the PDP. Thus, there is a presupposition that he would project the best that PDP represents. It is not for him to continue carry on as a serial contemnor through consistent disobedience of subsisting court judgments under the guise of party supremacy. He cannot continue to act as if the party is not guided by its own constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is surprising that while the leaders and elders of the party as well as its presidential candidate who believe in the Rule of Law have advised the national leadership of our party to toe the path of honour, Secondus and his co-travellers decided to go the inglorious way of impunity and disregard for constituted authorities – in a desperate bid to accomplish the mercenary job they have been paid to do.

“By their conduct, they are telling Nigerians and members of the PDP that the Party belongs to them and they can do whatever pleases them. They are saying they are the Alpha and Omega of the Party; and that they are more powerful than the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They have always done this to people. But, I want to make it abundantly clear that, on behalf of all the cheated and oppressed members of the party, we will fight for our rights till the last.” (NAN)

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