Oyo PDP guber aspirant decries exclusion from primary

… demands transparent process

The governorship aspiration of Mogaji Kayode Ogunsola within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has suffered a setback following his abrupt exclusion from the party’s gubernatorial primary election held today in Ibadan.

In a press conference shortly after the exercise, a visibly displeased Mogaji Ogunsola decried the development, alleging that his exclusion was the result of a calculated smear campaign by rival aspirants.

Addressing journalists in Ibadan, the aspirant revealed that despite fulfilling all the necessary requirements and meticulously following the party’s electoral processes, he was barred from participating in the contest.

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“My exclusion was based essentially on blackmail by some other aspirants at the state level,” Ogunsola stated. “Aspirants, including myself, should endeavour to win primaries on merit. We should let the members decide. There is honestly no merit in winning a contest without credible contestants.”

He emphasised that internal party democracy requires a level playing field, noting that true acceptability can only be tested through an open, transparent, and equitable process.

While expressing disappointment at the conduct of the state-level exercise, Ogunsola lauded the national leadership of the PDP for its organisation of the party’s primaries nationwide. However, he called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take a more prescriptive role in regulating how political parties conduct their internal elections.

“In line with the Constitution and extant laws, I believe INEC needs to be much more specific and prescriptive on how party primaries are conducted,” he said. “In many cases, accreditation is skipped; this isn’t good for the system. I believe INEC can specify how verifiable party primaries should be conducted end-to-end, and we should look to deploy simple technology.”

Despite the setback, the aspirant, who leads the Óseése Movement, reiterated his commitment to the welfare of the people of Oyo State. He maintained that his vision remains centred on creating jobs, ensuring living wages, and improving healthcare and the overall standard of living for residents.

“The end result of politics is governance. We need leaders that can deliver for the people,” he added.

As the political atmosphere in Oyo State continues to heat up ahead of the 2027 general elections, stakeholders are closely watching how the PDP addresses the grievances raised by aspirants regarding the transparency of the primary process.