By HENRY UMORU & ISIAKA OYIBO
LOKOJA—IN adherence to the decision of the National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Kogi State chapter of the party yesterday conducted its primary election to get its candidate for the December 3, 2011 gubernatorial election, just as it was held amidst very tight security.

Also yesterday, some of the aspirants boycotted the primary election with Jibrin Isah Echocho, the winner of the January Primary, a leading personality who did not participate in the exercise, just as money was alleged to have played a very prominent role before and during the event.

The former Managing Director of The Daily Times who scaled the screening, Dr. Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba also withdrew from it, just as AVM Salihu Atawode (rtd) also did not participate, even as irregularity and lack of transparency as preached by the party were given as reasons for their decisions.

At the end of the day, those who took part in the election were the deputy governor of the state, Mr. Phillips Salawu, from Kogi Central, Captain Idris Wada, in-law of the incumbent governor, Ibrahim Idris from East and Alhaji Abdulrasaq Isa Kutepa from West district, each representing the three Senatorial zones.

Onukaba, Isa, Alfa

others withdraw

Speaking with newsmen, Onukaba who accused the party that there was no true internal democracy in the primary, however, alleged that the delegates election did not hold, rather people sat down and compiled names of delegates without passing through the due process of the election.

He however disclosed that he reported the issue to the Panel’s Chairman, Dr. Samaila Sambawa that there was no delegate election in the state, adding that as an aspirant he did not see the list of the delegates and to ascertain who they were, therefore announcing his withdrawal from the contest

According to him, he was not confident in the credibility of the primary election, calling on the National leadership of the party to re-conduct fresh primary outside the state, adding, “this will allow a level playing ground for all aspirants”. None of my supporters had any opportunity to be part of the delegates since there was no election.

“The scenario in central is applicable to all parts of the state. If delegate congress election that produces 75 percent of the delegates that will elect the flagbearer is faulty, then the party cannot conduct a free and fair election. I cannot be part of such process because it is already rigged to favour a candidate.”

Also speaking why he withdrew, AVM Alfa who noted that promises made by the state party leadership that the election will be free was designed to deceive the people, adding that the selection of Ad-hoc delegates which constitutes over 70 per cent of delegates who would vote in the primary was not free and fair.

According to him, the only condition that may influence him to change his mind to be part of the primary is that the party should cancel the previous primary and conduct a fresh election of ad-hoc delegates or use only statutory delegates to conduct the primary.

It was observed that as early as 7am in the morning, stern looking policemen led by the Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations, Haruna John were seen at strategic locations across the length and breadth of the state.

All adjourning roads around the Lokoja Township Stadium venue of the party primary was cordoned-off while vehicular movements were restricted, even as motorists were barred from plying the Ibrahim Attah and Aliyu Attah roads despite the fact that they do not necessarily interfere with the election venue.

Speaking to newsmen on the development, the Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi noted that the security measures put in place was simply to prevent any eventuality during the party primary.

One significant factor at the governorship primary election was the noticeable influence of money, as practically the 1,400 delegates from the 21 local governments of Kogi State were being influenced, as the PDP governorship election was said to be worth over millions of Naira as aspirants were allegedly bringing out millions to each of them in the bid to woo them to their side.

According to a source who spoke with Vanguard and who is also a delegate, a delegate got within N500, 000 and N1million and were shared in ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags, “All the aspirants are spending big money, it is a game of money and we are ready to collect”.

It was also gathered that not less than N650, 000 was invested by some of the ad-hoc delegates to be part of the delegate for the primary and to many of the delegates, the outcome of the primary will largely depend on how much the aspirants were able to spend.

Also speaking on the development, the party Secretary, Dekina LGA, Hon. Damadu Attah who protested that the names of delegates from the ward congresses conducted in the LGA were changed and that he will seek legal action to redress the anomaly, said, “I can assure you that 99.99% of the names on the list have been changed. In fact, I’m sure that if I’m not a statutory delegate my name may have been substituted”.

As at the time of this report, the results were still being expected.