A concerned group within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Oyo state chapter named Concerned People Frontiers (CPF) has called on the leadership of the party to wage into the primaries election held at Ibadan South East
The group alleged the disruption of the primaries by the PDP Deputy National Chairman, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja invading the venue of the primaries with thugs.
The failure of the aspirants to agree on a consensus made the party organise the supposed primary election on Sunday.
The Statement made available to Times Journal on Monday signed by its Coordinator and Secretary, Adewale Ajani and Kunle Fasasi respectively disclosed that Arapaja led armed thugs and security personnel harassing, intimidating and forcing aspirants and some delegates out of the venue primaries in Ibadan South East both constituencies I and II.
According to the statement, “The Deputy National Chairman of our party, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja invaded the venue of the primaries with armed thugs, Police and Soldiers harassing, intimidating and threatening us with guns ordering us to leave the venue of the primary or we should be shot.
“We are going to challenge what happened legally because there were no primaries, some delegates and aspirants were prevented from exercising their electoral franchise. What transpired at the venue of the primary showed that the PDP government in Oyo state is not about people but about a cabal, who can do anything to achieve their clandestine motive.
Imagine someone of Arapaja’s calibre, a National officer for that matter, threatening his members with guns, this was a charade, and against the tenet of the democratic process.
We want to bring what happened in Oyo state to the notice of the party’s National headquarters. If this show of shame is not corrected, we have no option but to seek redress legally.
We want to use this opportunity to also advise the party leadership at national, that in case there will be other primaries, apart from INEC officials, aspirants and delegates, no other party leaders in the state should be allowed into the venue to guide against further occurrence of oppression for people like Arapaja, a national officer for that matter.
There were no primaries in Ibadan South East State Assemblies and Ibadan North East/South East Federal Constituency. Although they might come up with a winner it was glaring that there were no primaries as confirmed by INEC officials in an interview at the venue. The atmosphere was not conducive and it was really discouraging and sad. This is not democracy”.