Osun 2018: PDP protesters kick against candidate imposition
By Youth from Osun state on Thursday stormed the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to protest what they alleged was an attempt by the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, to impose a gubernatorial candidate on the party in the September 22 election.
They arrived at the Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5 Abuja edifice hosting the secretariat brandishing placards with various inscriptions suggesting that the national leadership of the party was complicit in the move to impose a candidate on the state branch of the party without a proper primary.
Some of the words on the posters read: “Secondus, no imposition in Osun,”Secondus, you’re a product of a fair election,” “Osun PDP youth against impunity,” Secondus, don’t take money, “ among others.
The protesters chanted political slogans and sang different songs.
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But their attempts to make their way into the party premises were strongly resisted by party security personnel on duty who slammed the gates against them.
The leader of the protesters, David Daramola, told the Nigerian Tribune that they embarked on the action because they learnt that the party boss had succumbed to pressure to impose a particular aspirant on the party.
The party is set to conduct its primary election in the state next week for the gubernatorial poll.
Daramola said: “We are here to express our feeling to the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, because we learned that so many things are going on in this premises which we think is abnormal.
“We learnt that they are trying to impose a candidate and money is involved.
“What we heard is that Prince Uche Secondus wanted to impose a candidate. The election has not been conducted but we want to guard against that from happening.”
Also speaking, Sharon Oyedeji, who said she came from Irepodun Local Government of the state, said she has no confidence in the pledge by the party boss to ensure the conduct of a free, fair and credible primary election.
She said: “All we are clamouring for is a peaceful, free and fair primary election. Of what use is the delegate list from the ward, local government and state level?
“Of what use are they (delegates) that they will not be able to exercise their right? We, the concerned youths of Osun state, we decided to take it upon ourselves to bring ourselves down here to speak our mind because staying in our state can’t help up.”
She affirmed that as a product of a free and fair election Secondus must ensure a free and fair PDP primary election in Osun state.
PDP Director of Organisation, Chief Adewale Fatona, who was the most senior party official at the secretariat during the time of the protest, dismissed their claim and admonished them to allow peace to reign.
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