THE Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held parallel governorship primary in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Sunday.
While the group loyal to the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Prince Buruji Kashamu, had its primary at the State Secretariat of the party.
Similarly, the other faction loyal to the member representing Remo North Federal Constituency, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu is presently had its special congress at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Event Centre.
Delegates were screened and accredited from the 20 Local Government council areas for the exercise.
There was no presence of any committee members saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the exercise from the national headquarters of the party.
Two members jostled for the exalted seat from the group with the former National Auditor of the party, Alhaji Fatai Adeyanju and Prince Leke Shittu as aspirants.
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Adeyanju withdrew from the race shortly before the commencement of the primary which made Shittu the sole candidate of the party.
A total of 1,994 accredited delegates participated in the primary while 1,979 voted for Shittu.
The exercise was conducted in a peaceful manner devoid of rancour and any form of violent act.
Speaking with newsmen on the exercise, the factional State Secretary of the party, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo, admitted that there were groups within the party and that all other factions would be accommodated at the end of the exercise.
Sodipo who was expelled alongside Kashamu and two others described their purported expulsion from the party by its leadership at the National level as illegal and illogical.
The latter’s election was supervised under the chairmanship of Captain Mike Hart. Other members include Ms Barbara Aloma as Secretary; Emmanuel Ekpe; Anthony Agbetuyi and Ms Bukola Oyinkansola as members respectively.
Addressing the 2,369 delegates, Hart, said the Constitution of the party would be followed to the latter, despite the fact that only one aspirant is eyeing the seat.
He urged party faithful to brace up for the challenge ahead by ensuring the victory of the party at the 2019 governorship election.
Adebutu in an interview said the party had gone through a due process on the conduct of the primary.
“We are a democratic party. As such, if there is a tiny percentage dissenting somewhere, they have the right to dissent. That has not changed the fact this is where the party resides, this is where the National Working Committee recognises and all the structures for the conduct of primary are here. So, if you like, you can hold a primary in your household, you are entitled to hold a primary,” he added.