Isiaka says he remains PDP Ogun governorship candidate despite party’s denial

The governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ogun State chapter, Gboyega Isiaka, has debunked reports that his mandate had been nullified by the national headquarters of the party in Abuja.

Mr. Isiaka disclosed this in a statement to journalists on Saturday in Abeokuta.

He said his mandate remained intact as the primary which produced him was done under due process.

“In the last few days, I have been inundated with many calls and messages from my friends, associates and party members who want to know the true position of the mandate that I hold as the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State for the 2015 general elections,” he stated.

“This has been as a result of some misleading reports in the public domain which are deliberate falsehood meant to denigrate the importance of this sacred mandate.

“The primary held on Monday, December 8, 2014 followed all due process as follows: the authentic delegates list was used, observers from the national secretariat of the PDP were present, the full complement of the Police and SSS monitored it and made their reports. More importantly, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, monitored and made its report. All of these in their own purview validated the primaries.

“Finally, I implore all party faithful, friends, associates, the general public and the media to disregard any information contrary to the above stated facts. We have moved beyond the primary and the task before us now is to work assiduously so that victory is achieved on February 28, 2015. I am the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP and that mandate is incontrovertible, legal and sacrosanct.”

The national secretariat through its publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement on December 8, had distanced itself from the primary.

‎”For the avoidance of doubt, the NWC hereby states that it did not authorize any governorship primary in Ogun state. Consequently, any such exercise held in Ogun state is hereby declared null and void and of no effect,” Mr. Metuh said.

The party did not give a reason for the cancellation of the ‎primary but said a new date for the governorship primary election would be announced later.