Date: 2014-12-16

Although the rescheduled gubernatorial primary of the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been concluded, Simon Ajibola’s emergence was stoutly resisted by Hajia Muinat Shagaya, National Pilot has learnt.

Ajibola, a Senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District defeated Dele Belgore (SAN), who is believed to be the preferred candidate of Shagaya in the election, with 144 votes to 132.

According to one of the delegates who craved anonymity, the exercise, though very free and fair, was characterised by threat to life and heavy inducement of money by some of the aspirants to sway to votes in their favour.

But for the democratic stance of the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, who led the election committee in the state, Shagaya was allegedly determined to have the primary worked in Belgore’s favour, the source added.

Unlike the first botched exercise last Monday, Belgore was physically present at last Thursday at the Arca Santas arena, venue of the rescheduled primary.

The source told our reporter that Shagaya after getting the wind that Suswam had been scheduled to preside over the election, allegedly sent a private jet to convey him and his team to Ilorin but was reportedly rejected by the governor.

“All the plans of Belgore and his benefactor, Shagaya, were to rig the election and everything was done to that effect. Immediately Governor Suswam was announced as the Chairman of the rescheduled governorship primary election in the state, Shagaya offered him her private jet but was rejected by Suswam, who booked another flight and came with his own team.

‘’He did this probably because of the outcome of the earlier botched governorship primary of the party in the state, or maybe to protect his name, ‘’ the source said.

Another source said: ’’Those of us delegates from Ilorin West Local Government who they see as anti-Dele (Belgore) were replaced because they threatened to kill anyone of us that show up at the venue.

“The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji SalIhu Garba, was seriously under pressure during the exercise as received orders from different quarters.

“Belgore spent over N70millon last Thursday if not, he would not have gotten the votes he got. It was only Ajibola and Gbemi that were on ground that had structures to produce delegates.

“After the accreditation, Ilorin West local government lost 12 delegates, while others also lost four, five among other who had to stay away because of the threat to their lives. That was the caveat he (Belgore) was trying to capitalize upon.

“Ajibola was the only candidate that had delegates from Kwara North, South and Central. Others like Senator Makanjuola Ajadi got bloc votes from Kwara South and a few from Central. Gbemi has votes in Kwara North and South but not in central. Also, Prof Oba has votes from Kwara “North and central but not in south.

‘’ Belgore also had votes in Kwara Central and North including Offa. Bio had sympathy votes only from Kwara North and Jani had his from south and few in the North among other”, he added.

A another source hinted that Ajibola allegedly doled out the sum of N250,000 and a 32 inches Plasma TV set to each delegate.

This, the source attributed to his landslide victory at the rescheduled governorship primary election.

The source said the least amount collected by the delegates was N50, 000 each from Ajadi, who came fourth in the exercise.

The wife of the former Chairman of the Federal Character Commission and one of the guber aspirants, Professor Shuiab Oba Abdulraheem, Hajia J.T, reportedly collapsed when her husband lost the primary.

The development, however, heightened tension in the Oba’s camp believing that its leader was affected by the outcome of the primary.

It was however, gathered that it took the intervention of domestic staff to revive the Edo-born woman.