The Chief Adebayo Dayo-led executive committee of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State yesterday described as laughable, the allegation of bias leveled against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by factions loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former commerce and industry minister, Jubril Martins Kuye.
The state exco further described the allegation as intended to mislead unsuspecting members of the public and sow the seed of discord within the party.
The factions loyal to Obasanjo, Kuye and erstwhile governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, had berated INEC in the state for allegedly taking sides with the Buruji Kashamu-sponsored state exco.
The Dayo-led state exco in its reaction, said “some faceless individuals, who called themselves Concerned Members and Stakeholders of the PDP” in the state, were behind the allegations against INEC.
In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Waliu Oladipupo, the party said that “The report was planted in the media to mislead unsuspecting members of the public and cause disaffection within the ranks of the PDP in the state.
“It is common knowledge that the former Governor Gbenga Daniel and some of his associates have since joined the Labour Party, just like a good number of them have defected into the PDP. Over 80 percent of the members of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo group are with us in the PDP having turned down the directive of the former leader that they join the All Progressives Congress.
“Also, all members of the Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye group are with us. Indeed, while mischief makers were churning out their lies, members of the group, led by JMK himself, were attending a meeting at the Lagos residence of Senator Ayo Otegbola. In attendance at the meeting were party bigwigs, such as Chief Alani Bankole, Mr. Buruji Kashamu and party chairman, Adebayo Dayo, among others”.
The party noted that the venture was dead on arrival “because it has no basis in law and in fact. Contrary to the false claims in the letter, the Adebayo Dayo-led Exco neither derives its strength from the 31st August, 2012 report nor the 18th September, 2012 letter by the INEC.
“As could be gleaned from the report and letter themselves, they were based on several judicial interventions and decisions, which INEC, as a law-abiding institution, could not but obey”, the state exco added.
