Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Umar Sani, has shed light on Governor Ademola Adeleke’s absence. He cited Adeleke’s decision to skip the party’s Osun State primary election.

Sani claimed Adeleke believes internal party disputes would prevent the PDP from fielding a validly recognized candidate. Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Sani further alleged the governor planned a temporary defection.

The goal, he said, was to secure an election ticket from another party. Afterwards, Adeleke would then rejoin the PDP. Sani suggested Governor Adeleke intentionally skipped the primary. This, he alleged, was to set the stage for such a temporary move.

Sani Details Primary Election Process

As chairman of the three-man ad hoc delegates committee for Osun, Sani confirmed supervising the delegates’ election in Osogbo. He stated the exercise concluded peacefully.

Its results were uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal. They received official acknowledgment. “I was the chairman of the three-man ad hoc delegates committee,” Sani recounted. “I personally went to Osun and lodged at DC Hotel in Osogbo. We successfully conducted the three-man delegate election.”

He confirmed the results were uploaded to the INEC portal. “INEC has recognized it,” he stated, emphasizing his inside knowledge of the process.

PDP Rejects Defection Strategy

The PDP, Sani explained, firmly rejects this strategy. The party insists all aspirants must contest on its platform. This approach, he added, safeguards the party’s integrity.

“Governor Adeleke, it appears, does not want the PDP to present a candidate,” Sani alleged. “He believes there’s an issue within the PDP regarding the recognized signatory for INEC.”

Sani continued, “His plan, as understood, is to move to another party. He would secure a seat there, then return to the PDP.”

However, the PDP firmly rejected this idea. “We cannot do that,” Sani quoted the party’s stance. “We want someone to run on our platform.”

He questioned the party’s image if its platform remained unused. “Other people might follow suit, seeking tickets elsewhere and then returning,” he reasoned. “So, we insisted that anyone wishing to contest must use our platform.”

This, he concluded, was the reason for conducting the primary election. He assured that it was not hijacked. “It was done peacefully and widely publicized on social media,” Sani confirmed. “The results were counted openly and announced.”