Soji Ajibola
•••As Party Nomination Forms Close Thursday
Aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State have threatened to leave the party if the leadership insists on the adoption of consensus candidates rather than conducting primaries.
The threat is coming barely 24hours to the deadline for the purchase of Expression of interest and nomination forms by the aspirants.
The aspirants, as at the time of filing this report, are still waiting for the directive from the leadership of the party to go ahead with the purchase of the forms.
However, the aspirants, as reliably informed, are still in the dark as various committees set up by the leadership of the party at the state level are yet to come out with their findings on the adoption of consensus candidates or conduct of primary as applicable in some local governments.
The Network gathered that this development has forced some aspirants to open up discussion with the opposition parties in the state in the bid to fulfill their ambitions.
It was discovered that the adoption of consensus candidates option by the leadership of the party in some local government areas is not in tandem with the electoral Acts as amended.
It was argued that what is currently going on in the party is nothing but imposition of candidates by the cabal within the party.
It was gathered that party faithfuls in the South East local government led by a former House of Assembly member, Hon. Muideen Inakoju has written a letter to the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Taofeekj Arapaja, calling for the conduct of the primary.
Also, in Oyo Central Senatorial District, notable members of the party have kicked against adoption of Chief Bisi ilaka as a consensus candidate.
Our correspondent gathered that the same scenario is playing out in virtually all the 33 local government areas of Oyo state.
The aggrieved aspirants have threatened legal action against the party, and if their prayers are granted, the consensus candidates may be disqualified.
In a related development, aggrieved candidates have opened discussion with the opposition parties in the states in a bid to deplete membership of the PDP and fulfil their political ambition.
It will be recalled that over 2,000 members of the party recently left with their leader, Chief Adebisi Olopoeniyan for another party.