A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, has declared that he did not step down for the state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, at the governorship primary of the party, held today.
He stated this in reaction to media reports that he stepped down for the governor at the venue of the PDP primary, held at the Adamasingba Stadium and in which Makinde was declared the winner.
Gbolarumi, in a statement by the Director General of his Ade Ori Okin Team, Honourable Minkail Aborode, said there was no time he made any statement of withdrawal from the exercise.
The PDP governorship aspirant also alleged that inappropriate delegates were used to conduct the PDP governorship primary, and threatened to take “appropriate actions” to seek redress.
“This is to draw attention of the public to a news in circulation that Barr Hazeem Gbolarumi, a gubernatorial aspirant in Oyo State PDP stepped down at venue of the convention for incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde.
“At no time did Barr Gbolarumi made pronouncement of withdrawal from the election. Acknowledgement of [a] sitting governor should not be misconstrued as adoption; this is just courtesy.
“In his speech at the convention, Barr Gbolarumi rejected the composition of the delegates.
“Quoting him, [he said] ‘what delegates do you want me to address, having intimidated, brutalised and sent out authentic delegates.
“Affront by NURTW members against screened authentic delegates, just before [the] commencement of the programme were witnessed by all.
“Many of these genuine delegates were severely injured and treated in hospitals,” Aborode also said in the statement.
“Inappropriate delegates were used for the conduct of the election. Thus, the process is rejected by Barr Hazeem Gbolarumi.
“This illegality will not be allowed to stand. Appropriate actions will be taken to seek redress,” Aborode added in the statement.
