Shock as Dimeji Bankole, Gbenga Daniel are out of INEC’s list in Ogun State

[NewsCaster]

THE raging controversy as to who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in Ogun state was partially put to rest yesterday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed Gen. Adetunji Olurin as the authentic Ogun state governorship candidate.

The list released to reporters at 6.30pm by the state INEC Commissioner, Deacon Markins Okunfolami listed Tunde Oladunjoye, a seasoned journalist as Olurin's running mate.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole lost his bid to return to the Lower House for the third time. He is to be replaced by Peter Olusegun Alawode, according to the INEC list

The state Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel's bid to contest the Ogun East Senatorial seat also appeared threatened as INEC approved Mohammed Tayir Adetunji as the party's candidate

INEC also approved Iyabo Olusola Obasanjo-Bello, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to contest the Ogun Central Senatorial seat while Chief Babatunde Fadun is to contest the Ogun West seat which is presently being occupied by Senator Kola Bajomo.

Following unresolved crisis within the state PDP, the factions within the party held two parallel primaries. The state party's Chairman, Joju Fadairo's faction being backed by Governor Daniel held its primary at the M.K.O Abiola stadium and elected Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka as its Governorship candidate.

The Jubril Martins-Kuye's faction which is being backed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo also held its primary at the Olusegun Obasanjo Library and elected Gen. Olurin, a former military administrator of Oyo state as its own Governorship candidate.

Both factions submitted the names of their candidates to the party leadership at the national level. But following a court injunction obtained by the Martins-Kuye group, INEC rejected Fadairo's faction's list.

The INEC listed Senator Ibikunle Amosun as the Governorship candidate for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). His running mate is Prince Olusegun Adesegun. The Governorship candidate for the Labour Party is Otunba Olajide Awosedo

In Cross River State, INEC published the names of Governor Liyel Imoke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and six others for the governorship race. The others in the contest include Etubom Nya Asuquo of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mr. Goddie Akpama of the Progressive Peoples' Alliance (PPA), Pastor Iheke Awa Solomon of the All Nigeria Peoples' Party (ANPP), Mrs. Stella Eno of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Senator Mathew Mbu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and Dr. Theo Onyuku for the Labour Party (LP). The names of their deputies were also published.

However, the lists for the National and State Assembly aspirants were not displayed at the INEC headquarters in Calabar.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, could not be reached for comment but some INEC officials said the list for the National and Assembly aspirants would be published at the various state and constituency headquarters.

The name of Governor Sullivan Chime was displayed as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Enugu State. The list which was pasted on the notice board of the commission at its headquarters on Achi Street, Independence Layout also has Chime's deputy, Sunday Onyebuchi as the running-mate. It put paid to speculations and controversy over the governorship candidate of the crisis-ridden PDP in the state, as supporters of Anayo Onwuegbu, who thronged the INEC office to observe the exercise yesterday left the premises dejected.

Onwuegbu had secured an injunction of court barring INEC and PDP from accepting Chime as their candidate in the state. But some of his supporters believed that the battle to wrestle PDP from Chime has just begun with the list released yesterday.

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) may not be participating in the election as the list did not contain names of candidates of the party. The list showed that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has Venatius Omenkeukwu as its gubernatorial candidate, while a former Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dan Shere emerged as the candidate of the newly formed People for Democratic Change (PDC) with a member of the House of Representatives, Kanayo Oguakwa as his running mate.

Okey Ezea emerged the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) with Ofor Odo as his running mate, while Paul Okafor and Ogbonnaya Ejim are the candidate and running mate of the ANPP.

Others on the list are: Emma Ugwu for CPC with Ayogu Emeka as running mate; Chinonyelum Odumejemba for NCP; Mrs. Nkechi Ofor for African Liberation Party (ALP) with Emma Aniakor as running mate. The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has its state chairman, Mr. Charles Ibe as the candidate with Ezea Sunday as running mate.

Apart from the governorship list that was displayed at the INEC state headquarters, that of other candidates including senatorial, House of Representatives and State Assembly were displayed at the various constituencies.

In a surprising development, Mohammed, son of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha had his name displayed as the governorship candidate of the CPC in Kano State, and Alhaji Hussaini Abdullahi Garba as his running mate. For the PDP, the candidate is former governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as his running mate.

On the list also was the name of the deputy governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo and Malam Muhammed Nasir Muktar as the governorship candidate and running mate on the platform of the ACN while the names of Alhaji Salihu Sagir Takai and Dr. Bashir Shehu Galadanci were displayed as the candidate and running mate for ANPP.

In a handwritten list posted on the Commission's notice board along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, Imo State, Governor Ikedi Ohakim was published as PDP governorship candidate with his running mate as Prof. Viola Adaku Onwuliri, the ANPP has Lemechi Ahamefule as its flag bearer and Beneth Chukwuma as the running mate.

Others on the list included APGA having Chief Rochas Okorocha as its governorship candidate while Jude Agbaso is his deputy. Emeka Nwajiuba is the flag bearer for the CPC just as Senator Ifeanyi Ararume is the governorship candidate of the ACN and Chief Noel Agwuocha Chukwukadibia the running mate.

The Senate, House of Representatives and the House of Assembly lists were yet to be published. The Public Relations Officer of the commission in the state, Chinedu Eugene Onyeji, told The Guardian that the legal officer was still working on the lists which he said would be out soon.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Maria Owi said that of all the political parties, only 21 presented candidates for various elective offices.

For the PDP, the governorship candidate is incumbent Governor Godswill Akpabio, while his running mate is Obong Nsima Ekere and not the incumbent Patrick Ekpotu. The ACN has Senator John James Akpan-Udoedehe as its governorship candidate and Chief Ime Umanah as the running mate.

ANPP has the retired Air Force officer and former military governor, Sampson Ewang as its candidate without a running mate. The CPC'S governorship candidate is Lawrence Esin who has also not picked anyone as running mate.

APGA has former ACN state chairman, David Ekanem as its governorship candidate and Nkereuwem Peter as his running mate. Other parties that presented candidates for elective offices are PPA, PAC, CDC, CPP, HDP, AD, SDMP, NNPA and ADC.

In Rivers State, the list was also displayed. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aniedi Ikoiwak, told The Guardian that the list which was sent in from Abuja yesterday was to enable individuals in the state to verify the claims made by the various candidates, including Governor Chibuike Amaechi as contained in the documents submitted to the political parties by the candidates which was then forwarded to the commission.

Ikoiwak explained that those of candidates vying for the Senate, the House of Representatives as well as the State House of Assembly would be posted in INEC offices in their constituencies.

In Anambra and Bayelsa states, however, the expectations of the people were dashed as the lists are yet to be displayed.

Source: Shock as Bankole, Daniel  are out of INEC's list in Ogun