The factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), candidate in Osun, Prince Dotun Babayemi, says none inclusion of his name on the list of candidates for the governrship election in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does invalidate his candidature.
Babayemi, in a statement by his media aide, Deji Kayode, on Saturday in Osogbo, said that some of the names on the list are provisional as substitution and replacement would still be made as appropriate.
Babayemi said, “In the case of our party, the PDP, that is what will eventually happen as the matter is sub judice at the present time .
“The judiciary, which is the last hope of the common man will settle the issue around the party’s gubernatorial candidate and I am confident that I will be victorious at the end of the day,” Babayemi enthused.
“INEC is a law-abiding agency of the government that respects the rule of law, as such, it will obey valid court decisions.
“It is not new for INEC to release names and later substitute same for legal reasons. Most of the names on that list, are temporary including that of PDP”, he said.
Babayemi also appealed to the people of the state and in particular, members of PDP across the state to remain calm, assuring that he would not only contest on the banner of the party but would win the governorship election to usher in the envisioned new dawn for the people.
It will be recalled that PDP during its governorship primary on March 8, held parallel primaries.
At one of the primaries held at the Osogbo City Stadium, under the supervision of Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, as Chairman of the Osun Governorship primary, Sen. Ademola Adeleke was declared the winner.
While at another primary held at the Women and Children Development Initiative Foundation (WOCDIF), Osogbo, Dotun Babayemi, was declared the winner.
However, INEC on Friday released names of candidates of political parties for the July 16 governorship election and that of Sen. Ademola Adeleke, was included as PDP’s candidate.
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