Osun 2022: Atiku, Wike in dilemma as election of two PDP flag bearers rips party apart

The outcome of the Osun state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Primaries has poured cold water on the minds of some bigwigs in the party who are unsure of who to pitch tent with publicly.

On Tuesday, the state branch had two different primaries at two different locations and this has further widened the rift that is fast tearing the party apart.

While former Senator Ademola Adeleke, the party’s flag bearer in the 2018 governorship election, emerged the winner of the primary at Osogbo Township Stadium; Dotun Babayemi, a 2019 Senatorial aspirant from Osun west, won the primary held at the WIDCOF event centre, also in Osogbo.

The division, POLITICS NIGERIA learnt, is the reason why some PDP stalwarts are yet to congratulate any of the winners in the public. Although former Senator Bukola Saraki edged the situation to send congratulatory messages to Adeleke, other top members including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Rivers state Governor, Neysom Wike, have kept quiet.

Sources say Abubakar, a friend of the Adelekes, does not want to step on the toes of former Osun state Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and National Vice Chairman, Soji Adagunodo, who are big supporters of Babayemi, because of his Presidential ambition.

Likewise, some others have decided to mask their differences and explore internal mechanisms to settle the rift. Nonetheless, Oyinlola has described the primary of the going on at Osogbo Township Stadium as invalid.

Oyinlola dismissed the ongoing exercise at the stadium saying it is not valid, saying; “He is the person who will make Osun better. He is Dotun Babayemi,”

Accepting the victory, Babayemi noted that it is not a victory for him but a victory for all other aspirants who stepped down for Babayemi prior to the primary election

Babayemi, Adeleke play along

Both contenders, in their acceptance speeches, did not indicate intentions to step down or acknowledge the factions.

Babayemi said; “I see my emergence today as a great challenge, a clarion call to a divine assignment to bring to bear, the vision of our founding fathers. This, I promise, shall be pursued with every fiber of our being. This is because Osun which is our common heritage has suffered enough degradation at the hands of interlopers.”

“I promise you that this is a race we shall run together. You are men of proven mettle and integrity whose wealth of experience would always be needed for all-around development of our dear state.”

Adeleke, in his acceptance speech, called on the party to unite ahead of the governorship poll, adding that with cooperation, PDP would defeat the ruling party at the poll.

He said, “No victor, no vanquished. We are all winners. Let’s work together to rescue people of Osun state from the current APC government. The good people of Osun state have suffered enough under the current APC government. Pensioners are dying every day.”

“Salaries are not being paid as and when due. Our roads are in terrible state of disrepair. No potable water. Many of our communities are in darkness because of lack of electricity, no employment for graduates, non conducive environment for self employment.”

“I call on everyone to work together with the good people of Osun state and by the grace of God, PDP will win on the 16 of July, 2022. Our manifestos will be released in few days.”