Ogun PDP Crisis Worsens As Two Governorship Candidates Launch Separate Campaigns

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State worsened on Monday as the two rivals for its governorship ticket, Buruji Kashamu, and Ladi Adebutu, launched separate campaigns for the 2019 election.

Mr Kashamu, who is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), launched his campaign in Ijebu-Igbo town, while Mr Adebutu, who the national headquarters of the party has handed the party’s flag in the state, launched his in Abeokuta confirmed by VoiceAirMedia.
Both venues were thronged by thousands of their different sets of supporters who claimed each was the authentic PDP flagbearer.

Mr Kashamu’s supporters argued that his candidature has been affirmed by the electoral body. But Mr Adebutu’s supporters said the presentation of the party flag to him by the national leadership of the party affirmed his candidature, stressing that Mr Kashamu and his supporters were only wasting their time and resources.
The two factions in the state conducted parallel congresses, but INEC acting on a court judgement recognised Mr Kashamu as the party’s candidate.

PDP had earlier suspended Mr Kashamu and the Dayo Bayo-led executive in the state. But they went to court and obtained judgement.
At the zonal flag off of the PDP campaigns in the Southwest last week in Ibadan, the party presented its flag to Mr Adebutu as its governorship candidate for Ogun State, ignoring Mr Kashamu who was not at the event.

The National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, while presenting the party flags to the governorship candidates in the zone, including Seyi Makinde for Oyo State and Jimi Agbaje for Lagos State, who was represented by Oluwayemisi Busari, declared that those who want to contest against the party and its candidates in the South-West states should be ready.
He boasted that PDP would win the legal tussle on its governorship candidate in Ogun, emphasising that Mr Adebutu was duly elected in the primary