Kashamu kicks as PDP hands governorship ticket to Adebutu

Buruji Kasahmu, senator representing Ogun east, has accused Uche Secondus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of attempting to plunge the party into crisis ahead of the 2019 elections.

He said this after the leadership of the party presented the governorship ticket of the PDP in the state to Ladi Adebutu, his rival.

“The desperation showed by Secondus is only typical of a mercenary who is hell-bent on delivering on the job he has been paid to do,” Kashamu said in a statement.

“His latest action was done in utter disregard to the Party’s Constitution and subsisting judgment of courts – from the High Court to the Supreme Court – which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has since complied with.

“It is a sad commentary on our democratic institutions that the National Chairman of our Party, Prince Uche Secondus, could preside over such a disgraceful exercise because he could not do it at the South-West zonal rally held on Thursday seeing the trouble such an illegal act could have caused.

“What is more, even if PDP presents 10,000 flags to Adebutu, it does not change the fact that the courts have pronounced the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State PDP Exco as the only party structure recognized by the law in Ogun State. It is merely ceremonial. It does not change the lists of candidates accepted, processed and published by INEC. It cannot change the verdicts of the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. It cannot also change the wide acceptance of our aspiration by the good people of Ogun State and beyond.”

While presenting the flags to the candidates, Secondus said the party had submitted Adebutu’s name to INEC as required by law.

Following a federal high court ruling, INEC had accepted the candidates’ list submitted by the Adebayo Dayo-led faction loyal to  Kashamu for the 2019 elections.

The PDP had expelled Kashamu and dissolved the faction but the senator went to court and got a ruling in his favour.

The court had ordered INEC to accept and process the list of candidates and delegates submitted to it by the Dayo-led faction.

In its letter, INEC said it would recognise candidates of the faction unless another court sets aside the order.

Subsequently, Kashamu and Reuben Abati were acknowledged as the state’s PDP governorship and deputy governorship candidates respectively.