A socio political group in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State known as Concerned Indigenes of Ifelodun has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against imposition of chairmanship candidate in Ifelodun Local Government Area ahead of the next year’s local government election, saying such attempt will ruin the chances of the party in the local government.
To this end, the group appealed to the state Governor, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, the leadership of the party in the state and all the stakeholders of the party to avoid imposition of chairmanship candidate in the local government in the interest of peace and for the party to win future elections in the state.
The group noted with dismay the recent actions of the immediate past chairman, caretaker management committee of the local government, Hon Sarafadeen Abiodun Awotunde who was allegedly boasting to have been endorsed by Governor Adeleke.
Reports allegedly have it that Awotunde who is popularly called Spain boasted at different places including restaurants and beer parlours that he would be imposed on the party by Governor Adeleke based on his relationship with the Adeleke’s dynasty.
The same Awotunde who had served as Chairman of the caretaker management committee for 11 months was alleged to be using the name of the Governor and some other leaders of the party to boast at parties, saying he had already gotten the endorsement of the Governor and that of the Yeyeluwa of Ede land, Yeye Dupe Adeleke Sanni.
The group therefore called on the Governor to call Awotunde to order, for him not to soil his (Governor Adeleke) name and integrity, as the people of Ifelodun do not want Awotunde to serve them any longer, having failed them woefully during his 11 months administration.
It was alleged that Awotunde has concluded plans to buy some leaders of the party through various means to get the ticket of the party for the chairmanship position, using deceit and manipulation with false claim that the Governor has endorsed him
The group warned that any imposition of candidate for the chairmanship position will not only affect the chances of the PDP in the local government election, but also affects the party in the 2026 governorship election in the state.
It was alleged based on rumours sponsored by the supporters of Awotunde that the members of the State Working Committee of the party had been bribed to do the biding of Awotunde, hence his (Awotunde) frequent boast about being the choice of the party for the position of the local government chairman in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
The group in a statement issued on Thursday by its coordinator, Alhaji Abdul-Kareem Adepoju advised that the party should create a level play ground for all aspirants seeking to contest the local government chairmanship position in Ifelodun Local Government Area by conducting a free, fair and credible primary election that will be acceptable by all members of the party.
The group recalled that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) lost as a result of imposition of candidate during the election and warned against such in the PDP.
The concerned Indigenes of Ifelodun which is made up of politicians, especially members of the PDP, professionals and artisans warned that if any chairmanship candidate is imposed on the party, the chances of the PDP will be affected in the next governorship election.
“Imposition of candidate is alien to the PDP in Ifelodun Local Government Area. We believe in the tenets of democracy and we believe in holding primary election for the most popular candidate to emerge. Any individual or group of people who want to support any aspirant can provide financial support for such aspirant and not that the aspirant will be imposed on the party as the sole candidate. Imposition is against democratic principles and it is not in the constitution of the People’s Democratic Party,” the group explained.
It stressed further that “no member of the party or any stakeholder in the local government is against provision of financial support to the aspirant that is the choice of any individual. But what we are against is imposition of any aspirant on the party. We will not take such and we’re sure, that will not happen, but the man making noise about it should be cautioned forthwith.”
The group pointed out that many critical stakeholders in the local government including transporters, artisans, civil servants and religious leaders are not comfortable with Hon Sarafadeen Abiodun Awotunde being the party’s candidate for the election due to his antecedence.
“We implore the governor and the leadership of the party in the state to set up a fact finding team to do an independent findings about the characters and personality of Awotunde. Let the team do the findings independently by sampling the opinions of people about him. The result of such finding will surprise anyone who believes in him,” the group added.
The group noted that the PDP in Ifelodun is already divided, adding that imposition of candidate will further divide the party and affect its chances in future elections, especially the 2026 governorship election.
Therefore, the group appealed to the Governor as a listening democrat to use his good offices to prevail on the party to hold chairmanship primary election in Ifelodun Local Government Area in the interest of peace and progress of the party.
The group also expressed its loyalty to Governor Ademola Adeleke and the PDP, declaring that the PDP has done much for Ifelodun Local Government Area in terms of infrastructural development and will always support the Governor for his kindness and love for the local government.
E-signed
Alhaji Abdul-Kareem Adepoju, Ward 07, Oke-ba, Ikirun.
