VIOLENCE rocked the primaries held by Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pick its governorship candidate on Monday, as hoodlums in their hundreds, stormed the Oregun, Ikeja venue of the exercise, with security personnel, including policemen having hectic time warding them off.
Voting began behind schedule, starting with late take-off of accreditation of delegates, as gates were not opened for delegates and journalists until around 4.00 p.m.
The PDP six aspirants jostling for the governorship slot included former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Mr Jimi Agbaje, Dr Deji Doherty, Mr Tokunbo Kamson and Mrs Modupe Chukwuemeka.
The police had to fire several canisters of tear gas, resulting in stampede, while delegates, journalists, among others, who were refused access were made to stand at the gate for several hours where the primaries was holding had to scamper to safety in different directions.
The police intervention, however, did not come until the hoodlums, some of who were seen hiding guns and other dangerous weapons under their apparels, with some others throwing stones, empty water bottles, among others had inflicted several forms of injury on people.
Some arrests were later made by the police after the situation had returned to normal as those affected were seen locked up in the black maria stationed in front of venue of the exercise.
I’ve not stepped down —Obanikoro
Speaking with newsmen at the venue of the exercise, former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, dismissed reports that he had been persuaded to withdraw from the governorship race, declaring that nobody could persuade him to step down.
According to him, “nobody can persuade me to step down. I resigned the coveted office of Minister of State (Defence). I am here and you all can see, despite the rumours being peddled. I am here and there is no doubt in my mind that we are going to participate and see this to a logical end.
“We have urged all our supporters to remain calm in the face of intimidation and persecution. Nothing comes easy, but we believe that whatever the Lord says shall come to pass,” he added.
Another governorship aspirant, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, opposed to what he described as plot by some people within the party to harass and intimidate some of them in the race to get their favoured candidate become the party standard-bearer for 2015, saying that was not going to work.
Gbadamosi gave the assurance that he was going to win the contest in a free and fair primaries, even as he said he would be a better governor as somebody coming from the private sector, like the sage, Chief obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.
Chairman of Lagos State PDP governorship primaries panel, Senator Saidu Umar Kumo, said the delay in take-off of the exercise in the state was due to the fact that the panel wanted to tidy up things to ensure a level playing ground.
According to him, the late take-off was also due to the need to follow the laid down rules and regulations in line with the PDP constitution and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) guideline, describing it as a normal issue.
Reacting to complaints by some people concerning handling of the exercise, Kumo said the panel was dealing with human beings and there was no way doing such would not bring complaints.
He, however, assured that every complaint would be addressed in the best interest of the party.
Mr Jimi Agbaje, an aspirant in the race, while dismissing insinuation in some quarters, said the belief that he was the best candidate for the job must have been due to his past record available to them.
“So, if the people say they believe in Agbaje, it is not for other reason, maybe we have been able to put ourselves in a way that they can see us as a candidate to beat.
“I think it is important to note again, you are saying about winning election, but you have to get the party ticket, and what we are saying is that Agbaje can win general election if he can cross this hurdle,” he said.
Another Lagos PDP gov aspirant withdraws from race
Another governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mrs Modupe Chukwuemeka, on Monday, withdrew from the race, as voting was about to commence in the primary exercise to pick who would fly the party’s flag come 2015 election.
The exercise will witness 806 delegates participating in the voting exercise and they are consisted of 137 statutory delegates.
Dr Adegbola Dominic had a day earlier announced his withdrawal from the race.
Announcing her decision, Chukwuemeka, who recalled that she joined the race based on the outcry from non-indigene and also to champion women cause, pointed out that every other aspirant on the party’s platform was capable of addressing the issues involved as she would equally do.
She, therefore, promised to work with whoever emerged as PDP’s standard-bearer to win the governorship of Lagos come 2015.
The PDP aspirant expressed gratitude to the PDP as a party for giving her the opportunity and the leadership for the encouragement and support given her so far.
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