PDP OSUN ASPIRANTS SHIFT BATTLE TO ABUJA, ANTI, FAYOSE FORCES TOO...

The battle over who flies the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the next Ekiti state gubernatorial elections have shifted to Abuja with those who lost out to former Governor, Ayo Fayose running to meet top party stalwarts advocating that the primaries that produced him be nullified. They have however lost the battle as the party leadership yesterday stated categorically that Fayose is the party’s flagbearer in the forthcoming elections.

In the same vein, ahead of April 5 date for Osun PDP governorship primary, five aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket may have shifted battle to Abuja, just as the national screening for the aspirants is expected to hold before this weekend.National Mirror yesterday in Osogbo exclusively learnt that the aspirants namely; Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, Hon. Oluwole Oke and Alhaji Lateef Bakare, who as at the time of filing this report was yet to obtain Intention Form to participate in the PDP primary, are in Abuja to garner support for their aspirations.

Sources also claimed that the aspirants are in last minute efforts to ensure success during the national screening expected to hold before this week’s Friday at the national secretariat of the party.

It was also gathered that some aspirants went to Abuja with leading members of their camps, who are said to be meeting some power brokers in the Presidency to sell their candidates.

A political associate of one of the aspirants, who spoke under condition of anonymity with National Mirror, said the aspirants do not want to be caught unaware by political intrigues peculiar to contest for party’s governorship ticket.

He added that the aspirants are not leaving anything to chance since the national screening committee has power to disqualify any aspirant found not to have met some stipulated conditions, hence “why some of them with weak national relevance are making efforts to ensure their aspirations are not terminated by failing to scale through national screening”.

Meanwhile, there is heightened tension between the political camp of Senator Omisore and Senator Adeleke, as PDP members in the state are sharply divided over who should be the party’s flagbearer in the August 9 governorship poll.

While some members believe Senator Omisore deserves the ticket having rescued the party from extinction by complete takeover of its funding, others are canvassing for emergence of a fresh candidate apart from the three initial aspirants that showed interest in PDP’s ticket.