A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, Mogaji Kayode Ogunsola, has alleged that he was excluded from participating in the party’s gubernatorial primary election despite fulfilling all necessary requirements.
Speaking during a press conference in Ibadan on Sunday, Ogunsola expressed disappointment over his exclusion from the exercise, which he said undermined the principles of fairness and internal democracy within political parties.
While commending the leadership of the PDP for what he described as commendable efforts in organising party primaries nationwide, Ogunsola said the overall process showed dedication by party leaders toward rebuilding the party for the future.
“I have been through the process myself and honestly it is commendable. There were a few snags here and there, but honour must be given to those deserving of it,” he said.
The aspirant, however, raised concerns over the conduct of party primaries across the country, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission to establish clearer and more verifiable guidelines for primary elections.
According to him, the current process, particularly direct primaries, lacks adequate transparency, noting that accreditation procedures are often ignored while vote counting methods remain questionable.
He called for the deployment of simple technology to improve the credibility of party primaries and ensure transparent participation by party members
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Ogunsola further alleged that his exclusion from the Oyo PDP governorship primary was orchestrated through “blackmail” by some aspirants at the state level.
“We have followed the process meticulously and met all requirements, so it is surprising that we were excluded from the primary,” he stated.
He maintained that aspirants should be willing to subject themselves to open and equitable contests, adding that party members should be allowed to decide candidates through credible competition.
“There is honestly no merit in winning a contest without credible contestants,” he added.
Speaking on governance, Ogunsola said the ultimate goal of politics should be service delivery and improved welfare for citizens.
He said the Óseése Movement remained committed to initiatives that would improve jobs, healthcare, living standards and economic opportunities for residents of Oyo State.
“Our people need jobs, good healthcare and improved living standards. That is what we at Óseése are committed to,” he said.
He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to the development of Oyo State and Nigeria at large.
