By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Osogbo
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has endorsed Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke for Saturday’s governorship election.
The faction, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the decision followed consultations with stakeholders and was taken in defence of multi-party democracy.
The faction also welcomed the Court of Appeal judgment upholding the nomination of Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola as the PDP governorship candidate produced by the Turaki-led faction.
Ememobong said the court held that the PDP conducted a valid primary monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and that the winner’s name was forwarded to the commission.
He said, however, that with the court judgment coming shortly before the election, the faction’s candidate had no realistic opportunity to campaign.
“Because our candidate can no longer campaign, we have decided to support Governor Ademola Adeleke,” the statement said, urging PDP members and supporters to vote for the governor.
The faction accused INEC of frustrating its candidate’s participation in the election by withholding the required access codes for uploading candidates, describing the commission as partisan.
Ememobong said the Court of Appeal had directed INEC to include the PDP logo on the ballot, adding that the judgment removed any legal impediment to the participation of its candidate.
The faction nevertheless maintained that the late resolution had effectively denied its candidate a fair opportunity to campaign and urged its members to vote for Adeleke and protect their votes during Saturday’s election.
