TheCable

Segun Sowunmi, factional governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state, says he will not be bullied to concede defeat.

Sowunmi spoke on Wednesday, in Abuja, on the outcome of the suit he filed against the Ogun PDP over the governorship primary election.

In the suit, he asked the appeal court to dissolve the executive committee of Ogun PDP on the premise that the state executive was biased by obtaining the form for Ladi Adebutu.

In May, Sowunmi and Adebutu were declared winners in parallel governorship primary elections held in the state.

Delivering judgement on Monday, the court found Sowunmi’s appeal meritorious.

Addressing journalists, Sowunmi said he is confident that he would emerge as the authentic candidate of the PDP in Ogun.

“For the health of democracy, Nigeria should have passed that stage where imposition of candidates will be the order of the day,” he said.

“I went through the right channels right from the beginning even before the primary election, to draw the party’s attention to the anomaly going on in Ogun.

“I want to put it on record that no one can intimidate me into conceding defeat where I am a winner.

“I will fight this battle to the end and will be on the ballot. No individual has a monopoly of wealth.

“When the party declared open the sale of forms, my colleague, Hon Ladi Adebutu purchased his form on the very first day.

“Ironically, upon buying his form, Hon. Adebutu went to the media, saying that the executive committee of the PDP bought the form for him.

“I felt that the constitution of the PDP had been compromised and broken because the fact that they bought a form for a particular candidate shows that there is a bias and that they have been compromised.

“Secondly, the oath of office of the EXCO which includes that they will be free, fair and just to all and sundry had also been compromised.

“I therefore wrote a letter to the national organ of our party – the national chairman’s office, the national secretary’s office, the national organizing secretary’s office and the national legal adviser’s office, saying that it is unfair to purchase a contest form for one among several contestants.”

Showunmi said he recommended that the EXCO should be dissolved or set aside while a new set of people should be brought on board to superintend the primary election process.