Disarray in Osun PDP as guber aspirants want application fees refunded

Proposed conduct of the Peoples Democratic Party primaries in Osun State to pick its governorship candidate for the 2014 election may have suffered a serious set back as some aspirants in 2011 general elections are seeking refund of sum of N8.5million paid to the party as their intention and registration fees.

The aggrieved governorship aspirants are of the opinion that the money which they paid to the party national secretariat and state is still valid and that the party must not ask them for new fees.

The party was at the peak of picking its governorship candidate in 2010 when the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan declared the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, candidate in the 2007 election, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola the winner.

It was also learnt that about 12 governorship aspirants actually paid the N8.5million in the build up to the 2011 general elections. Out of the amount, N5.5million was paid to the National Secretariat while another N3million was paid o the state chapter of the party for the same purpose.

Among the governorship aspirants that paid the said money then were Senator Iyiola Omisore, Alhaji Fatai Akinade Akinbade, Dr. Peter Babalola, Akinrogun Tunde Odanye, Hon. Gbenga Onigbogi, Alhaji Lateef Bakare, Chief Segun Bamigbetan, Chief Alafe Aluko, Chief Gbenga Owolabi, Chief Lere Oyewumi and Diran Odeyemi.

When contacted, one of the affected governorship aspirants, Akinrogun Olatunde Odanye insisted that the money he paid is still valid.

Odanye said that he is still in governorship race since the money he paid for his aspiration in 2011 has not been actualized, insisting that the N8.5million paid by him is still valid since the party has not concluded the primary election which the money was meant for.

According to him; “Those who aspired for the governorship position on the platform of the party before the Court of Appeal ruling of November 2010 which sacked Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s government, as a result of which no governorship election was held in the state in 2011, are still much qualified for the 2014 governorship race.

“I remember I paid N5.5million to the Abuja PDP and N3million to the party st the state, making it N8.5million, now the primary for which we paid the N8.5million for has not been held, and I don’t remember ever telling anybody that I have withdrawn from the race. The simple interpretation is to tell people that technically I am still in the race.

“Do you think we are going to pay another money? If you pay for a certain goods and it has not been delivered, will you go and pay a second time for the same thing? he queried.

But the State PDP Publicity Secretary, Hon. Bola Ajao said that the party has not denied the fact that such money was paid saying that the party is yet to decide on the matter.

Bola Ajao said that the race is open to all interest members of the party while other conditions would be communicated to them at the party level.

Source: Vanguard