By Mumini AbdulKareem
As the race for who becomes the Deputy Governorship candidate of the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) enters its final stage, the leadership of the party is set to name its candidate on Monday (today), National Pilot exclusively gathered last night.
The development is coming on the heels of the November 2, 2018 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the final submission of names to fill the post of governorship candidate and their deputies by political parties.
The state chapter of the PDP will reportedly finalise arrangement on the issue on Monday night after meeting with the national leader of the party and Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
Independent findings by this medium on the issue revealed that the party’s choice has been narrowed to contenders from Irepodun Local Government Area of the State where it has been zoned to.
According to a very reliable source who confirmed the latest development, stakeholders are routing for a non politician on the issue of female candidate who may likely be a technocrat.
The source said the contest for the ticket if it will go to the female folk will be keenly contested between the nominee of the General Overseer of Living Faith Church popularly known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, Prof Olabisi Olasehinde-Williams and a “very popular female politician” from Irepodun.
He added that for the contest among the males, it will however be a straight fight between Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Rural Water Support Services, Anu Ibiwoye and the Deputy Chief of Staff to Saraki, Gbenga Makanjuola.
He said: “The party will finalise on the issue of the Deputy Governorship candidate on Monday night (today) which has been zoned to Irepodun and everything is still open whether male or female, politician or technocrat.
“But if the choice will be a woman, then it is going to be between Professor Olabisi Olasehinde-Williams and another very popular female politician from Omu-Aran. Although some stakeholders are routing for a non politician who is probably a technocrat.
“On the other hand, if the choice would come from the men, the race is going to be between former House of Assembly member in the seventh legislature, Elder David Bamidele, Deputy Chief of Staff to Saraki, Gbenga Makanjuola, a two-time Special Adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Labour Matters and Students Affairs, Comrade Bisi Fakayode, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Rural Water Support Service, Anu Ibiwoye, and former Commissioner III in the Local Government Service Commission and immediate past secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state before the defection of the Senate President, Chief Bode Adekanye,
“However, it is going to be a straight fight between Anu Ibiwoye and and Gbenga Makanjuola in the final analysis”.
Meanwhile, the party convened a meeting on the issue on Saturday which had five prominent stakeholders each from the seven local governments in Kwara South in attendance held at the GRA residence of the chairman of the party, Engr Kola Shittu.
Those at the meeting include former Deputy Governor, Chief Joel Ogundeji, Kola Yusuf from Ifelodun, Kwara South Senatorial chairman, Chief Ebun Afolayan, Deputy Chief of Staff, Leke Ogungbe from Ekiti, House Leader, Hon Hassan Oyeleke, Chairman House Committee on Judiciary, Hon Kamal Fagbemi, Hon Sikirat Anako, former Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Samuel Bamisaye, one time Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Babatunde Muhammed, former Chairman of Offa local government, Segun Olawoyin and Alhaji Yusuf Honeymoon from Oke-Ode among others.
It was gathered that the Kwara State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) may be allowed to make input on the choice of the party’s running mate.
“We are looking at somebody who should be able to rally the Christian community behind the government and not just somebody who is a nominal Christian or one who is laid back”.
“At the meeting, it was decided that no name should be forwarded to the leadership of the party so that it will not cause enmity among them and it was pushed back to the Senate President. We agreed that anybody he picks in collaboration with the leadership of the party will be acceptable with the following criteria.
“That the person must be from Irepodun, must not only be Christian but somebody who is acceptable to the Christendom and they should liaise with Kwara CAN because religion is very sensitive now so that everybody can be carried along. The person must also be a politician and this shot down the women professor.
“The party has also received addition application as one Raphael Awotunde, a former staff of Societe General Bank has also joined the race“, a source added.
On the choice of Irepodun for the slot, it was reliably gathered that the party’s choice was influenced by the need to for equity and justice in the allocation of political positions.
“In the whole of Kwara South, three local governments come with the most votes with Ifelodun as number one followed by Offa and Irepodun in that order. But Ifelodun has been taken care of with the senatorial ticket given to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Offa too also has the ticket of House of Representative with the return of Tope Olayonu, remaining Irepodun. But one of the tickets for the House of Reps was given to Oke-Ero after complaints that they have not been considered before for the position. That was why the Deputy Governorship slot was taken to Irepodun”, a source at the meeting said
