Alleged Imposition: Protest Rocks Ondo PDP

By James Sowole in Akure

Protesters besieged the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State on Tuesday, as supporters of an aspirant of the party for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Mr Sadiq Obanoyen, protested against the alleged move to remove his name for another person.

The placard-carrying protesters with various inscriptions condemned the move to drop Obanoyen for the incumbent, Hon Bode Ayorinde, as they vowed to work against PDP in the constituency if the party leadership go ahead with the plan.

The aggrieved supporters of Obanoyen said it was dissappointing that the party could moot the idea when Obanoyen was the one that won the primary election of the party that was free and fair.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “Respect Our Right And Choice, Obanoyen is our Candidate; No Impunity No Imposition; Obanoyen Was Elected Not Selected; and It Is Either Obanoyen or Nobody for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the first Chairman of the PDP in Ondo State, Col. Samuel Awodeyi (rtd), said all the party members in the constituency stand by the results of the primary election into Owo/Ose Federal Constituency won by Obanoyen.

“As the first Chairman of the PDP in Ondo State and a former member of National Executive Committee (NEC), the result of the primary election should stand.

“The National Chairman of the party has said that the era of impunity has gone and ended, let it be so.

“The primary election in my constituency was conducted by approved officials and the result declared in which Obanoyen was declared the winner. This must stay,” he said.

Reacting on the matter, the PDP chairman in the state, Mr Clement Faboyede, allayed the fears of the protesters.

Faboyede said as far as he knew, the list has not been changed.

He commended the party members and supporters in the constituency to be committed and ensure that the PDP wins in the forthcoming election.