By Dayo Johnson
Akure—Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation in Ondo State, weekend, denied the allegation of bribery of delegates to secure their votes for President Goodluck Jonathan at the primaries of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to be held early next year.

Defence Minister, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), was last week alleged to have come into the state with large sums of money used to bribe delegates from the state.

Reacting to the allegation, Coordinator of the campaign organisation in the state, Professor Olusegun Adegbulugbe, said the allegation was “not only incorrect and wicked, but also outrightly misleading, false and a deliberate ploy by political opportunists and carpet baggers to blackmail the minister and weaken the support base of Mr. President.”

Purpose of meeting with delegates

Adegbulugbe said the minister was only in Akure to attend a meeting with the delegates from the state, which also had in attendance the former governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Agagu and the state chairman of the party, Dr. Tayo Dairo.

According to him, the meeting was solely to re-appraise and re-affirm the avowed free commitment of all the delegates to vote for President Jonathan in the primaries.

In a statement titled, “Gagging the Truth; Antics of the Loser”, Professor Adegbulugbe,  blamed the development on desperate politicians.

He said: “Apart from the refreshments served delegates and guests, nobody was offered any backdoor financial gifts or inducement to vote in a predetermined way and there exists no reason or logical basis to do so.

“Delegates discussed freely and exchanged ideas and strategies about why and how to give Mr. President maximum votes at the primaries.

“Delegates thanked and proudly requested the Honourable Minister Kayode to convey to the President, their unfailing words, restating profound commitment, zeal and eagerness to vote for progress, transformation and prosperity by giving Dr. Jonathan their votes at the primaries.”