Crisis as Segun Sowunmi wins ticket of Ogun PDP faction

Segun Sowunmi, on Wednesday emerged the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.

His emergence appears to be setting tone for a parallel primaries as the faction of another aspirant, Ladi Adebutu, is expected to hold primaries any moment from now.

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Sowunmi, who was spokesman of the PDP presidential candidate in 2019, Atiku Abubakar; Adebutu, former Rep member and an ex-banker, Jimi Lawal, are the three aspirants battling for the PDP ticket.

Sowunmi at a primaries held at secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abeokuta, the State capital, polled 554 votes to defeat his closest rival, Lawal who scored 30 votes, while Adebutu polled 15 votes.

The chairman of the electoral committee, Abayomi Daniel, announced Sowunmi the winner of the election after the votes were counted.

According to Daniel, a total number of 778 delegates were accredited, 702 votes were casted while three votes were voided.

“By the power conferred on me by the national leadership of our great party as the chairman electoral committee of the PDP governorship primary election in Ogun State declared Hon. Segun Sowunmi as the winner of the election having polled the highest number of votes and he is hereby returned and elected”, Daniel said.

Sowunmi in his acceptance speech, commended members of the party for their support and promised not to let them down.

Sowunmi called on other aspirants to work together with him to secure victory for the party in the 2023 general elections.

He said, “I humbly accept the nomination as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for Ogun State.

“I thank all the delegates, I thank all relevant authorities and the security for their efforts.

“I am particularly impressed by the orderly manner of the primaries. I wish to extend an olive branch of peace and camaraderie to my brothers fellow aspirants. It is the beginning ot a new dawn in the PDP and a sure step towards a defining moment in our beloved Ogun State.”

Meanwhile, another primaries has been scheduled to hold at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), also in Abeokuta.

The primaries, spearheaded the state executives of the PDP loyal to Adebutu, was slated for 11am. However, the primaries had not started as of the time of this report.