The Kwara state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants and party chairman yesterday expressed fears that the primaries might not be free, fair and transparent based on the controversies that trailed the November 1 ward congress elections.

Scores of members of PDP had protested against alleged manipulation of the delegates list of the party.

They also stated that contrary to the Electoral Act, venue, time and agents of the today state House of Assembly’s primary are not yet known.

One of the aspirants, who claims he is the Chairman, PDP aspirants forum, Senator Simon Ajibola said this in Ilorin, the state capital at a meeting convened by the state police command, Department of State Security Service, Nigeria Prisons Service and other paramilitary agencies.

Some of the other aspirants at the meeting were immediate past Chairman, Federal Character Commission (FCC), Prof Shuaib Abdulraheem, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim, Bio Ibrahim, Engr. Sunday Babalola, Akeem Lawal and Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN).

Senator Ajibola added that, “we have been asking for the official delegates result sheet of the November 2014 ward congress in the state, up till now we are yet to have it. We plead that the authentic result sheet of the congress be released.”

The senator who is representing Kwara South at the upper chamber specifically accused one of the aspirants, Belgore of not cooperating with other aspirants.

He added that the former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress (ACN) in the 2011 governorship election declined to append his signature on some decisions reached by the forum.

But Mr. Belgore defended his decision not approve of a decision reached at a prior meeting of the forum he was not physically present.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said that, “all other aspirants had a meeting in which I was not in attendant. The decision had been taken at that meeting and they now expect me as a lawyer to sign.”

Responding, the state PDP chairman, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo agreed that there were lapses in one of the local government areas during the ward congress, adding that the aspirants want to lord it over the PDP leadership in the state.

His words: “I don’t want any aspirant because of the misconception they have about the leadership of the party fomenting trouble where nothing should happen. I thought Senator Ajibola was satisfied with our efforts and explanation.

“I would have expected him to ask questions instead of coming here to wash our dirty linen in public. I am saying this because I don’t want the Senator to because of these allegations foment trouble for the party.”

Earlier, the state Police Commissioner, Salihu Garba warned all aspirants to caution their supporters before, during and after the primaries.

Said Garba: “Intelligence gathered so far reveal that some persons are planning to disrupt the gubernatorial primary by engaging hoodlums to disturb the atmosphere at the venue where the primary election would take place. This shall not be tolerated. We as security agents shall ward of any aggression from any persons or quarters.

“Any aspirant linked to such unwholesome act or where it is traced to any aspirant, such aspirant will be dealt with according to the existing laws. As a law enforcement institution, we have vowed to use all legally permitted means to prevent any breakdown of law and order and offenders shall be duly prosecuted that is, the law will definitely take its full course.”