Yekini Jimoh reports happenings at last week's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primary in Kogi State.THE Kogi State chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has finally elected Civil Aviation, Captain Idris Wada, as the party's gubernatorial candidate in the December 3, 2011 election in the state.The primary has come and gone, but the question in the minds of stakeholders in the state is whether the leadership of the party, both at the state and national levels, will be able to ensure victory for the party in the December gubernatorial election, considering what took place before the primary.There was liitle doubt that most of the people in the state, irrespective of their political affiliation, were of the belief that the contest was going to be between Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho and Alhaji AbdulRasaq Isah Kutepa. Since Echocho was the anointed candidate of the governor during the first primary, expectations were hight that he would emerge winner again during the fresh primary. Kutepa, on the other hand, was not the governor's favourite, but people still believed that anything could happen, considering his pedigree in Kogi politics.Before the primary, Echocho was the only aspirant perceived to have the total support of the incumbent governor. But suddenly, a week to the primary, the name of Captain Idris Wada appeared from no where.According to a school of thought, it was like a drama when all the structures of the governor, led by the governor and seconded by the Speaker of the House, Honourable Abdulahi Bello, dumped Echocho for Wada. With this scenario, the number of aspirants rose to seven. Those that purchased the form were AVM Ibrahim Isaac Alfa, AVM Salihu Atawode and the incumbent deputy governor, Mr Phillips Salawu. Others were Echocho, Kutepa, Wada, and Dr Onukaba Adinoyi Ojo.When it became a reality that the governor was fully in support of Wada, the supporters of Echocho did everything possible to change the governor's mind, but it was too late.Howver, some sources close to the governor disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that the governor was never at anytime in support of Echocho. According to the sources, Wada was the choice of the governor, but he kept it very close to his heart .Before the primary, a ward congress election was held, but the outcome was protested. One of the party's chieftains in Ijumu Local Government Area alleged fear over an attempt to substitute the authentic list of candidates who emerged from the ward congress election in the state. The chairman of the party in the local government, Mr Akin Ibilaiye, made the allegation in a protest letter signed by him to the chairman of the ward congress panel for the election of ad-hoc delegates, Dr. Bello Sambawa.He alleged that there were moves by the so-called godfathers in the area to alter the list of the delegates who were originally elected during the ward congress, saying that the alleged sudden disappearance of the state returning officer, Mr. Bolaji Olore, with the original forms was an attempt to subvert the will of the people by planning to replace the authentic list with a fake one in.He pointed out that they had complied with the rules and processes for the emergence of delegates and would not succumb to any clandestine move to tamper with the original list.The statement read in part: 'I want to inform the national leadership of our great party that we are going to oppose and fight any attempt by the so-called godfathers to alter the list of delegates.'' Also, another delegate, Danmodu Attah, who is also the PDP secretary in Dekina Local Government Area, said ''I was elected as a delegate from the ward congress election, but when I went for accreditation at the stadium, I was surprised to discover that my name was not on the list and when I checked the list, it wascompletely different from the one we had after the ward congress election.'' He said he did not know how the new list came about, but was sure that it was prepared to favour a particular candidate, adding that he want the national leaders of the party to know that the election was not free and fair. One Paul Sule also told newsmen that he was a registered member of the PDP who was elected as a delegate from Ogbavode Ward but, unfortunately, his name was not on the list of delegates for accreditation.As the development unfolded, four of the aspirants decided to boycott the primary, namely Alfa, Adinoyi-Ojo-Onukaba, Atawode and Echocho. Thus, those in the race were Salawu, Wada and Kutepa.The first aspirant to boycott the primary, Air Marshal Isaac Alfa, while addressing newsmen a day to the primary, he said he had realised that the primary election would not be free and fair despite all promises to to the contrary. He noted that the selection of ad-hoc delegates which constitutes over 70 per cent of delegates to the primary was not free and fair. He posited that it was rather very unfortunate that, despite all efforts at repositioning the party in the state, the sham called delegate selection could still take place.He noted that for him to participate in the election and for the election to be credible, the party should conduct a fresh election of ad-hoc delegates and also use only statutory delegates to conduct the primary.Also addressing newsmen on the day of the election, another aspirant, Adinoyi-Ojo said there was no true internal democracy in the primary, alleging that thedelegates election did not hold, but rather, people sat down and compiled names of delegates without passing through the due process of the election. According tohim, he reported to the chairman of the panel, Dr. Samaila Sambawca that there was no delegate election in the state.Adinoyi-Ojo added that as an aspirant, he was yet to see the list of delegates and to ascertain who they were, noting that he had withdrawn his participation in the primary election. He posited that he did not have confidence in the credibility of the primary election as he called on the national leadership of the party to conduct a fresh primary for the state. He said this would allow a level playing field for all aspirants.Another aspirant, Atawode, also boycotted the primary. Although he refused to mention why he boycotted the primary, the Nigerian Tribune's investigation gathered that Atawode withdrew from the race as a result of lack of transparency in the primary.Echocho, on the other hand, did not reach out to the delegates before the commencement of the primary election. Echocho, who was in Lokoja during the primary, had challenged the primary in court. The Nigerian Tribune reliably gathered that Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, had okayed a suit brought by his counsel, Umar Lawan, seeking to stop the primary. But, nevertheless, at the end of the primary, Captain Wada emerged winner.Announcing the result, the chairman of the PDP electoral panel for the Kogi gubernatorial primary, Prince Jare Olateru- Olagbegi, stated that the ex-Civil Aviation pilot won with a total of 547 votes to defeat other aspirants in the election. In the gubernatorial primary election , Captain Wada polled a total of 547 votes, while the runner up, Alhaji Abdulrazak Isah Kutepa scored 296 votes, with the Deputy Governor Chief Philip Salawu scoring only two votes and Alhaji Isa Jibrin, who boycotted the contest scored one vote.Prince Olateru-Olagbegi explained that seven names were originally sent from Abuja to contest the gubernatorila election, but only three went into the contest, stressing that a total of 855 delegates were accredited for the election. He pointed out that only 851 cast their votes with total valid votes of 846 , while five votes were voided. He further stressed that the electoral panel had completed its mandate and stated the conduct of the primary was very transparent and very credible.However, Echocho, on Sunday, said he remained the authentic candidate of the party ahead of the December 3 gubernatorial election. The PDP chieftain, in a statement signed by his media consultant, Phrank Shaibu, said that according to the provisions of the PDP Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections, 2010, his nomination in January remained sacrosanct, adding that the guidelines adopted by the party in January was still in force. He said there were no provisions in the constitution and Electoral Act, 2010 stating either expressly or by implication that ''nomination of a candidate for an election lapses where, for an unforseen circumstance, the date of an election is shifted by reason of supervening event.''All said and done, will the party be able to put it house together before the December 3 gubernatorial election' Only time will tell.
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