Osun 2022: We are yet to pick Adeleke’s deputy, says PDP

Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Osun State chapter said it is yet to pick a running mate for its governorship candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke.

The party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Oladele Oluwabamiji, in a telephone interview with WESTERN POST in Osogbo on Saturday said no name had been submitted for the deputy governorship candidate.

WESTERN POST learnt that some members of the party protested in Ile-Ife on Friday, and kicked against the choice of Kola Adewusi, a former local government chairman of Ife East during  Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola-led administration as a possible running mate.

Oluwabamiji, who appealed for clam among members of the party, assured that the leadership of the party would address any grey area of concern.

He also assured them that the leadership would pick a loyal  party member who would add a bit of value to the party’s governorship candidate.

He said: “In politics, there will always be vested interests here and there, different people representing different interest.

“There are lot of party stalwarts who are capable men and women to be nominated as deputy governorship candidate, especially in Ile-Ife, and this party stalwarts will have their own supporters who will want their leader to be picked.

“So, the tendencies are there that they protested and try to make their grievances known, perhaps the party can change its decision.

“And because they don’t have the details why a particular candidate is being rumoured to have been picked.”

Oluwabamiji added that the deputy governorship candidate would be picked from the East Senatorial district of the state.

“Our governorship candidate is from Osun West, so we are looking at the direction of Osun East Senatorial District. There is Osun Central too but at times, you want to follow tradition.

“Like we had in 2018 where the deputy came from Ife, it is not unusual that the same thing should be repeated.

“The major thing is that the person must be a party person, a stalwart who has paid his dues too, as well as a good name that will add value to our project,” he added.

On the insinuations that the party’s governorship candidate is a Christian, he said that is not correct, saying that the fact that he was raised by a Christian mother does not make him a Christian.

“His father was a Muslim and he gave him a Muslim name unless people want to be unnecessarily mischievous.

“It is clear that you bear the name of your father in this part of the world. So, Sen. Ademola Adeleke is a Muslim by birth,” he said.