The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission to produce the candidates for next year’s elections has named a former governor of the State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, as its candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District and former presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, as the running mate of its governorship candidate, Leke Shittu.
The development was contained in a statement by the faction, led by Bayo Dayo as chairman and backed by Senator Buriji Kashamu, on Wednesday.
The INEC had in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, said it had accepted the list submitted by the faction based on judgments by the Federal High Court.
In the statement signed by Kashamu, the public was asked to disregard a statement credited to the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, that INEC contravened the rule as only the chairman could submit candidates’ list to INEC.
The statement reads: “The candidates’ list of the Kashamu backed Bayo Dayo exco of Ogun PDP has been received and fully acknowledged by INEC for the 2019 elections.
“Prince Leke Shittu and Dr. Reuben Abati were duly acknowledged as the Ogun PDP Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates respectively (acknowledgement receipts attached).
“Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, is for the Senate, Ogun East; and all other candidates for the Senatorial, Federal House of Representatives and the State House of Assembly were also accepted and duly acknowledged.
“Any rumour being peddled around by our National Chairman and National Publicity Secretary through a purported press release should be disregarded, as the duo are deliberately acting unlawfully and beyond their powers to which they’ve refused wise counsel to toe the path of rule of law.”